When you visit an Alzheimer’s Community you may wonder why they have walking paths that are outside or the layout of the halls is actually one large circle or square. This is because one of the most common behaviors of someone who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s is wandering. There are a few different types of wandering, safe wandering, agitated wandering/pacing, exit seeking wandering and anxious wandering – when the individual is searching for someone.
When the individual appears to be agitated or uncomfortable and they seem to be pacing, not wandering, it may be a result of a physical, environmental or emotional concern. Sometimes the person may be pacing because they have to go to the bathroom, they may be hungry or even in pain. Or the individual may not be getting enough daily exercise on a regular basis and they suddenly experience a burst of energy. Environmental causes can include the room temperature – either too hot or too cold, the lights are off and they cannot see where they are going because of shadows or darkness, or there is too much stimulation around them and they are looking for a way out. Emotional factors that can contribute to pacing and agitated wandering include depression, boredom or a trapped or confined feeling. The individual may also be looking for someone and frantic that they cannot find them.
If your loved one is experiencing unusual wandering, it is important to speak with their doctor and schedule a thorough examination. Many times the individual is not able to communicate that something hurts and a physician can help identify if a medical condition is contributing to the unusual sudden behavior.
If the physician finds nothing physically causing the behavior, try the following:
- Note when the pacing or agitated wandering occurs. Perhaps there is a pattern or
precipitating factor.
- Offer the individual food or something to drink. They may just be hungry and are not
able to verbalize this to you.
- See if they need to go to the bathroom.
- Observe the environment
• Is the TV on at the same time as the radio?
• Are children running around creating additional noise?
• Is a computer game contributing to the noise factor?
• Does the primary space have too much furniture without clear walking paths?
These factors can contribute to an environment with too much stimulation. Coordinate children’s activities to reduce excessive noise and over-stimulus.
Safety prevention tips
Ensure your front door or other unsafe exits from your home have proper safety features such as deadbolts, locks or even door alarms. If you have an outside area that can be safe for your loved one to wander, add a gate or safe walking paths. This will help them get outside and feel a sense of accomplishment and independence. Make sure you always leave the door to the safe outside area unlocked. If the individual wants to open a door and leave, you can always direct them to this safe exit.
Diversion techniques
When the person is wandering and appears agitated, walk with them and listen to what they say. Find out if they are looking for someone or something. Listen to their concerns with compassion and then redirect them to a positive area or activity they enjoy doing.
If someone is anxiously wandering and you are concerned they might fall, try one of these techniques. This one is especially effective with women. Hold a baby doll and ask them to come see your baby. If they stop to look, ask them if they would like to hold the baby doll. They may actually believe it is a real baby and their anxiety could decrease or stop as they refocus their attention to a positive experience.
Learn about their past to find something they really enjoyed. For men it may be watching sports or playing cards. Record a football game or another favorite sport game to videotape. When you see them anxiously wandering, put the recorded game in the tape machine. It is okay to play it over and over again. Remember, they will most likely think it is live and enjoy it as much as the first time.
