Why Does a Senior with Alzheimer’s Disease Wander?

Wandering is one of the more disturbing behaviors that people with Alzheimer’s disease can develop. It’s upsetting for you as her caregiver because she can go missing so easily. These are some of the big reasons why your elderly family member might wander.

She’s Following Old Habits

Recent memories and experiences are more difficult for your elderly family member to process and to remember with Alzheimer’s disease. This is often why your elderly family member mentions the past a lot or tries to follow old habit patterns, such as trying to get ready for work when it’s been a few decades since she went to work regularly. Those old habits feel more comfortable than her life now does.

She’s Afraid or Upset

When something happens that your elderly family member isn’t expecting or that upsets her, she may want to simply leave that situation. It’s a coping mechanism that people experience before Alzheimer’s disease, but they don’t necessarily act on it. This is a way for your elderly family member to try to protect herself from something she doesn’t want to be around.

She’s Confused

Confusion is extremely common for people with Alzheimer’s disease. Your senior’s brain just doesn’t work the same way that it used to so things just don’t make as much sense as they once did. Your elderly family member may experience greater degrees of confusion at different times of day, so it can help for you to track what’s confusing her and what’s going on around that period of confusion.

She’s Restless or Bored

When your elderly family member has excess energy or is bored, that can manifest as a need to wander. You might want to try experimenting with an exercise plan that her doctor recommends. Another idea is to find activities that are challenging but not too difficult for her. This allows her to stave off boredom more readily.

She Has a Basic Need that Isn’t Being Met

One really big reason that your elderly family member might seem to wander more often is that it’s more difficult for her to meet basic needs on her own. If she’s hungry or if she needs the bathroom, she might forget where to go to meet that need. Labeling rooms can help, but it can also help to have a fairly tight schedule that includes bathroom breaks, snack times, and other important events. That way it’s easier to narrow down what your senior might need.

Getting to the reasons behind your senior’s wandering can help you to curtail it. Working with elder care providers can help you to get there faster. They can help you and your senior find new routines that help to prevent these and other potential causes for wandering and other Alzheimer’s disease habits.

IF YOU ARE CONSIDERING IN-HOME ELDER CARE IN WAUKEE, IA, FOR AN ELDERLY LOVED ONE, CONTACT GOLDEN HEART SENIOR CARE OF DES MOINES, IA AT 515-631-5033. OUR CARING STAFF CAN ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS!