Wandering (dementia)

Wandering occurs when a person with dementia roams around and becomes lost or confused about their location. It is a common behavior that can cause great risk for the person, and is often the major priority (and concern) for caregivers. It is estimated to be the most common form of disruption from people with dementia within institutions.[1] Although it occurs in several types of dementia, wandering is especially common in people with Alzheimer's disease (AD). People with dementia often wander because they are stressed, looking for someone or something, attending to basic needs, engaging in past routines, or with visual-spatial problems.[2] Other times, they may wander without aim at all.[3]

  1. ^ U.S. Congress, Office of Technology Assessment (1992). Special care units for people with Alzheimer's and other dementias: Consumer education, research, regulatory, and reimbursement issues. Washington DC: Government Printing Office. ISBN 978-1-4289-2817-6.
  2. ^ Mayo Clinic Staff. (2020, August 07). Alzheimer's: Understand wandering and how to address it. Retrieved February 3, 2021, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/caregivers/in-depth/alzheimers/art-20046222
  3. ^ Strubel, D., & Corti, M. (n.d.). Wandering in dementia. Retrieved February 3, 2021, from https://www.alz.org/help-support/caregiving/stages-behaviors/wandering