Virtual Tour Subscribe Schedule a Tour (859) 543-0824
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Blog
  • Knowledge Center
  • Testimonials
  • Contact
Dementia

Ideas for Managing and Preventing Wandering for a Person with Dementia

Kim Trevey on Feb 6, 2025
Ideas for Managing and Preventing Wandering for a Person with Dementia - The Breckinridge Memory Care - Lexington, KY
Table of Contents
  1. Ideas for Managing and Preventing Wandering for a Person with Dementia

Ideas for Managing and Preventing Wandering for a Person with Dementia

A primary sign and safety concern for those who are living with Alzheimer’s or dementia is wandering. Leaving the house unexpectedly, getting lost, not being able to remember where you are or where you were going—these are all hallmark signs of cognitive decline and can be difficult to manage when you’re a caregiver and scary and confusing when you’re the one living with dementia.

Wandering is common in those with dementia and Alzheimer’s because of how the disease affects memory and spatial recall. Dementia largely affects short-term memory, meaning many people tend to live in their long-term memory. Because of this, some may try and leave their home or care facility to go to work in the morning, pick up their child from school or perform a task or chore they’re no longer able to, not realizing these are things they did in their past and are no longer a part of their daily routine.

Wandering at night is also common for those with dementia and Alzheimer’s. Since sleep rhythms are often disrupted with aging, someone with dementia may lie awake at night, get restless and then get up to go to the bathroom or try to leave the house and get lost. Night wandering puts a lot of strain on caregivers who are trying to get enough sleep to properly care for their loved one during the day.

Since wandering is such a stressful experience for all involved, it’s important to understand why your loved one may try and wander away and how you can prevent this, or at least reduce the risk of wandering, and keep your loved one as safe as possible.

Why do people who are living with dementia wander?

People with dementia and Alzheimer’s don’t simply have the desire to wander all the time. They are usually triggered by something that causes them to wander away.

Several factors can contribute to this, including:

1. Stress

New or unfamiliar locations can cause someone with dementia to feel stressed and attempt to leave in search of home or a place that feels safe.

2. Overstimulation

Loud or strange noises can negatively affect those who are living with dementia and make them want to leave a noisy room or house in search of a quieter, more peaceful place.

3. Physical discomfort

This is what commonly causes night wandering. If someone with dementia wakes up hungry or needing to go to the bathroom, she might leave her room in search of the kitchen or bathroom and get disoriented.

4. Boredom

Those who don’t have structured activities in their day can start to feel bored. Boredom makes dementia and Alzheimer’s people more prone to wander away from home.

Taking on the Role as a Care Partner for Someone with Dementia - The Breckinridge Memory Care - Lexington, KY

Share this Infographic Image On Your Site

<p><strong>Please include attribution to https://thebreckinridge.com/ with this graphic.</strong><br><br><a href="https://thebreckinridge.com/ways-to-stay-engaged-socially-with-dementia/"><img src="https://thebreckinridge.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/2-taking-on-the-role-as-a-care-partner-for-someone-with-dementia-thebreckinridge.jpg" alt="Taking on the Role as a Care Partner for Someone with Dementia" width="1200px"></a></p>

How can you prevent someone who is living with dementia from wandering?

The following are a few strategies to put in place to help prevent your loved one from wandering. Understanding your loved one’s motive for wandering–whether that’s stress, overstimulation, night wandering or something else–can help you determine which of these strategies would work best.

1. Establish a daily routine

A structured, daily routine will help engage someone who is living with dementia, helping him feel less restless, more regulated and more content where he is. This will make him less likely to try and leave.

2. Create a peaceful environment

Since overstimulation can cause someone with Alzheimer’s or dementia to want to escape, creating a quiet, safe and peaceful environment can help prevent this. The definition of a peaceful environment will vary based on what makes your loved one feel calm. If your loved one loves music, make sure you play music throughout the day. If animals calm her down, have a therapy dog visit a couple of times a week. Know what is calming for your loved one and incorporate that into her day as much as possible.

3. Safety proof your home

The Alzheimer’s Association provides several ways you can safety-proof your loved one’s home to prevent him from wandering away, such as:

  • Installing deadbolts out of eyesight on external doors.
  • Using nightlights in the home at night.
  • Covering door handles to match the color of the door.
  • Installing warning bells or a security system that alerts you when a door has been opened.
  • Using safety gates where needed.
  • Installing a high fence outside, so your loved one can safely spend time outdoors.
4. Contact local police ahead of time

This article suggests contacting your local authorities to let them know your loved one has dementia and may wander from home. Provide them with a photo of your loved one and his or her name and your contact information. This way, if anyone reports seeing someone wandering in the neighborhood, the authorities will know if it’s your loved one and will be able to contact you.

5. Employ technology

You can also use a dementia wandering response service such as MedicAlert, which provides 24/7 assistance in case your loved one goes missing. GPS tracking devices are also readily available to help caregivers keep track of their loved ones. These devices can be worn as watches, bracelets or even in a shoe. See a list of the best elderly GPS trackers here.

6. Consider a memory care facility

For many who are living with cognitive decline, a memory care facility will eventually be necessary. In fact, many caretakers choose to move their loved one into long-term care to prevent wandering and ensure their safety.

Memory care facilities should have extra security in place to make sure residents don’t get lost or leave the facility without someone accompanying them. At The Breckinridge Memory Care, we have 24/7 security to keep our residents safe, but we also want our residents to feel free to move about the property. We don’t want them to feel trapped. Because of this, we’ve designed our facilities in a circular pattern, so residents don’t get lost. We have also specially designed rooms with certain carpet and colors to remind residents where they are.

At The Breckinridge Memory Care in Lexington, Kentucky, residents can safely move in and out of the building, from their room to the garden to the kitchen to the living room without getting lost or putting themselves at risk.

What should you do if you can’t find your loved one?

If your loved one goes missing, the Alzheimer’s Association suggests searching the immediate area for 15 minutes and then calling 911. Most of those who wander away are found within a 1.5-mile radius of their homes or previous location, so they shouldn’t wander far. The Alzheimer’s Association also recommends searching in brush and bushes as your loved one may go there to seek safety.

Wandering is a major safety concern for those who are living with dementia, especially if they still live at home, but you can put precautions in place to keep your loved one safe. If this gets difficult to do on your own, consider contacting a memory care facility with extra security and precautions, so you can have ultimate peace of mind that your loved one is safe and secure.

< PREVIOUS Does High Blood Pressure Increase Your Risk for Alzheimer’s?
NEXT > Memory Care vs Nursing Home: What’s The Difference?
Memory Care - Alzheimer's - Dementia - The Breckinridge Lexington
Memory Care vs. Nursing Home - The Breckinridge Lexington
6 Things You Should Know About Memory Care Facilities - The Breckinridge Lexington
Call us for more information

(859) 543-0824

The Breckinridge - Alzheimer's Care

2109 Cornerstone Dr
Lexington, KY 40509

Have more questions?

Contact Us

Want to see our facility?

Schedule a Tour

Want to receive updates?

Subscribe to Newsletter

Copyright 2025 - The Breckinridge Memory Care

Privacy Policy | Terms and Conditions

Built with and by Jeff Payne Co.

Call Us

Call us for more information

(859) 543-0824

The Breckinridge Lexington

1667 W. Lexington Parkway
Lexington, TX 75075

Have more questions?

Contact Us

Want to see our facility?

Schedule a Tour

Want to recieve updates?

Subscribe to Newsletter

`

Covid Information

Continuing an Environment of Caring in Times of COVID-19


Safety of Residents and Staff

As the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continues to evolve, our communities are focused on keeping our Residents and staff safe while also maintaining Resident engagement and daily fulfillment. We are taking a cautious approach, balancing the highest level of safety within the least restrictive environment.

We will continue to follow and augment State and C.D.C. safety recommendations:

Screening: We screen every employee every day. We require our staff to complete a questionnaire (inquiring about possible symptoms, recent travel and exposure), have their temperature and oxygen level checked before entering the building. Staff are also required to clean their cell phones, keys and wash their hands while being observed. We monitor our Residents’ health closely with temperature and oxygen level checks at least twice a day. We help our Residents wash their hands throughout the day and encourage them to wear a mask or face covering.

Cleaning: We have enhanced our cleaning products with regard for their effectiveness in killing COVID-19 particles and proper sanitization and disinfection, using the EPA’s specific list of disinfectants for use against the coronavirus. We are using this list and training staff on how long cleaning solutions must be kept on a surface before wiping it off to ensure its effectiveness. We prioritize cleaning high-touch areas and horizontal surfaces, cleaning them several times a day.

Physical Distancing: We encourage 6 foot distancing between Residents and with staff unless they are providing direct care to a Resident.

Testing: We test all Residents and staff for COVID-19 every three weeks, and more as needed. Our nurses utilize a PCR test, which we send to a private lab to expedite results.

Physical Changes: We have installed ultraviolet lights in our air conditioners that supply air to the common areas of the houses. This method is believed to be helpful in killing bacteria that is cycled through the systems and pushed back into the house. We’ve also enhanced our HVAC filters to near HEPA levels, trying to add additional layers of protection to keep COVID-19 out of the building. Most importantly, air purifiers have been added to common areas and each resident room.

PPE: Staff members wear masks at all times and we encourage Residents to wear masks when outside their rooms. We also encourage physical distancing between our Residents. Staff wears additional protective equipment when deemed necessary while caring for our Residents. Staff are continually trained on when and how to use personal protective equipment (PPE).

Individual Needs Stay Paramount

The uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 affects us all. At our communities, we are not letting it stop us from safely offering a life well-lived. Above all, we are providing the utmost attention to the safety and well-being of our Residents. Our Program has always revolved around the individualized needs of each Resident and this has not changed during COVID-19. Residents are still able to connect with each other and staff while maintaining a safe physical distance. Weather permitting, we enjoy the patio and large backyard. We continue to keep our Residents engaged through cognitive, physical, recreational experiences. We offer enjoyment and connection throughout the day even during these unprecedented times.

Visitors

Since early March we have restricted facility access to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Essential Visitors: Healthcare providers including physicians, home health, private duty services, physical therapy and hospice staff have not been allowed in the communities unless there is an acute, essential need for our Residents. These services continue as needed through FaceTime, tele-med and phone conversations. If physical access is absolutely necessary, the individual will complete our questionnaire and screening for temperature and oxygen stats. No one is allowed in the community if they fail to meet our screening criteria.

Families: We are happy to help schedule window visits, FaceTime, Zoom and phone calls with your loved ones based on what is allowed and prudent. To ensure the proper support from our staff, our visits are scheduled ahead of time.

Tours and Move-Ins

Tours: We recognize that regardless of the changes with COVID-19, your need for senior living hasn’t changed. For the safety of you, our Residents and staff, we are currently offering virtual tours where you can see our community, as well as meet our staff. Please contact our Community Relations Director to set up a virtual tour.

Move-Ins: We are accepting a limited number of move-ins (unless otherwise instructed by public health department). New Residents must be tested for COVID-19 prior to move-in. Upon admission, we will place a new resident in their room to quarantine as an additional precaution.

We will share community-specific information with residents and families as our quarantine measures continue to evolve with new information of COVID-19.

We are honored to care for your family member and loved one.

 

Comments we’ve received from our families during COVID-19.

“We appreciate all of your efforts. Your team clearly is a leader in the response to COVID. Thank you for keeping our loved ones safe.”

Joseph

“Thank you, thank you, thank you for ALL you have done and are doing to keep the residents and staff in a safe environment! The continuous learning and improvements empower caregivers and families to do better at home and in our communities.”

Tommy

“I appreciate you taking the time to update us and share them with my family living in AL, GA, VA, MD, FL…we are extremely grateful and comforted by your proactive and decisive measures! We’ll continue to keep you in prayer for health, safety and more.”

Rebecca

“In keeping with the parade theme you had, the employees there are super heroes. They are plowing forward in the midst of this horrible virus and taking care of their patients selflessly. I just wanted to acknowledge their bravery and dedication and thank them from the bottom of my heart for the goodness in their hearts and their dedication to their patients and jobs.”

Abigail

“Thank you! You locked down early & your diligence has paid well.

The Bader support group continues meeting once a month by Zoom. We all appreciate you so much. Everyone comments on how grateful we are that our parents are at The Breckinridge!

We appreciate everything: sending us pictures, calls, alerts to bring supplies/clothes as needed, staying in virtual contact with hospice.
Blessings to each of you.”

Marsha

“Thank you for all y’all and all the staff are doing for my mom and the other residents. We truly appreciate your hard work.”

Carol

Subscribe for Updates

Receive our weekly newsletter. It’s filled with expert advice to help you learn about the latest in memory care, dementia care, and Alzheimer’s disease. We won’t send you any spam and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Schedule a Tour
  • We provide three options for facility tours.

    1. Online Virtual Tour: View a virtual online tour of our facility.

    2. Virtual Tour Live: Request a virtual live tour of our facility via FaceTime with a Bader House staff member.

    3. In Person Tour: Request an on-site tour.