How to Manage Wandering When You Provide Care at Home for a Senior with Dementia or Alzheimer’s

When providing care at home for an Alzheimer’s or Dementia patient, one of the biggest worries is wandering. Sometimes, the patients get a massive urge to leave and walk around. This can cause problems if you aren’t prepared for what may happen. Below are some tips and tricks to manage to wander.

Activities and Outings

For most seniors, the urge to get out and do something is ever-present and they only get to act on it every once in a while. For the care at home provider, this is the perfect opportunity for outings to take place. Try finding some local, senior-friendly events to go to. Consider taking them to a bingo night at the local senior center. Sometimes there are concerts or local events that the patient might be interested in, so consider checking local event calendars to see what, if anything, is going on out in the world.

Walks and Leisure

Local recreation centers often have tracks specifically made for running or walking. Care at home providers may also consider going to a leisurely stroll through a park or hiking trail. If your patient has a pet, you also might consider taking them to a dog park to socialize with other seniors or people in general. There are many things you can do to manage the urge to wander.

Games and at Home Activities

Some other ideas for managing wandering are entertainment. Keeping seniors entertained is actually quite simple. Try playing board games with them, or even card games. Keeping their mind focused on other activities makes Alzheimer’s and Dementia care at home a breeze.

Family and Friends

Oftentimes there is a need for the family to be involved in the care at home process. It should be noted that the family can’t always be around. Helping them get out and make friends can be a good way to stave off the need to wander.

Wandering is a definite concern if you are responsible for a senior with diminished mental capacities, reduced cognitive function or a memory-related condition. These are just a few ways to avoid the onset of wanderlust. Use this list as a jumping-off point to make a special bond with your senior loved one.