By Jennifer Bradley, Staff Writer
The challenge for them is an inability to
communicate where they are, who they are with, and
where to go next. Many times a person with dementia
may not know their friends and family by name, but
only by sight or even smell. Living with a
degenerative memory disease is scary. At the onset,
the person knows something is different and “off.”
Imagine the fear of being in a room of people who
seem familiar, but you just can’t pinpoint why. It
makes the person with dementia uncomfortable, so
they seek a way out of the situation. Factor in loud
music or congestion of people and these triggers
guarantee a paranoid, very fearful person. This
explains why a person who wanders is not always in
search of an intentional destination, but may be
expressing a sign of distress and the need to
escape.
A caregiver on the hunt must consider the
physical, social and geographical factors of the
place from where their loved one left. If it’s from
the inside of a quiet home with which they are
familiar, it’s a different story. They may be bored,
looking for their job or going for the mail.
As a caregiver, it’s also necessary to ensure
your loved one is getting enough exercise. Just as
children and adults need physical stimulation to
keep their bodies healthy, so do people suffering
from dementia. Exercise lessens their anxiety and
sense of boredom. Socialization is also an essential
component to controlling nervousness, and in turn,
wandering. No one likes to be alone.
The desire to fulfill basic living needs such as
eating, drinking and using a restroom are all
reasons a person may wander. Photos on doors can
help with direction and a successful outcome. It is
the caregiver’s responsibility to ensure these needs
are met; otherwise, the person under their care may
take off in pursuit of a bathroom and soon become
lost.
A Different Direction
There are many factors a caregiver cannot
control, as hard as they may try. With this illness,
brain function is changing and lessening. A
caregiver can have some influence, however, by
guiding their loved one in a different mental
direction.
Understanding why persons with dementia wander is
the key to keeping them safe. A caregiver can
pinpoint the triggers by keeping a journal of the
incidents. Also, the caregiver should look for a
pattern, whether it is a time of day or the location
the wanderer is seeking. Once the “why” is
determined, there are several methods available to
slow down someone with dementia.
For the homemaker, meeting her kids at the bus,
folding towels, stirring a pot, or engaging in
something else that reminds her of her past daily
routine can keep her busy. A caregiver can tell her
that the children will be home shortly, and change
the discussion topic. Distraction and redirection
are vital in keeping a loved one calm and feeling in
control. How a caregiver redirects is just as
important as the task itself. It must be done
in a way that is supportive of the person with
dementia.
The Journal of Family Practice says this:
“Redirection is the most commonly misused behavioral
management technique. When patients enter restricted
areas, attempt to elope, or engage in problematic
interpersonal exchanges, caregivers may tell them
‘You can’t do that’ and attempt to physically lead
them away. Handled this way, redirection is often an
antecedent to agitated or aggressive behavior.”
Printable Version
