By Sara Perry and Wendy Hudson Murphy of Respite Care Charleston
The accounts are sobering: a Silver Alert is issued for an 87-year-old man with Alzheimer’s disease who drove to the grocery store but never returned. A neighbor frantically posts on her community’s Facebook page asking if someone has seen her mother who went for her daily walk but can’t be found. A care facility is surprised when police return a resident who crossed to the other side of a busy four-lane highway using a walker.
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, up to 60 percent of people diagnosed with dementia will have an episode where they are missing from their safe location, whether that is home, a care facility, or in public with a loved one. Often, these episodes are brief, and families are reunited after a scary few minutes or few hours. Occasionally, police and community efforts are required before a loved one can be located. In heartbreaking times, loved ones are found injured or deceased after they go missing.
While we can’t fully understand exactly why our loved ones wander, recognizing some common causes can help caregivers adapt routines or become more vigilant when they occur:
• Anxiety, fear, and stress can make us want to get away from it all. A designated quiet space can be a calming haven to someone feeling upset or over-stimulated.
• If you’re not at home, keep your loved one in your immediate line of vision. If they can’t see you, they may think you’re lost and wander away to find you.
• Never split up at public restrooms. Find a single-stall restroom or a family restroom and go in together.
• Those experiencing sleeplessness tend to wander, so be sure to talk with their doctor if your loved one has trouble sleeping.
• Someone with excess energy may want to go for a walk without realizing their limitations, so build time into your routine for your loved one to burn off energy safely.
• Being in an unfamiliar setting can lead your loved one to try to return home or find another place they feel safe. Carefully plan trips and be vigilant when away from home.
Preventing and Preparing for Wandering
• Use your phone to take a photo of your loved one daily.
• Have your loved one wear a GPS-enabled device like an Apple Watch, Fitbit, AirTag, or Tile so you can monitor their location at all times.
• Alert your neighbors about your loved one’s diagnosis—neighbors can help in the event that they see the person with dementia wandering alone.
• Install an alarm system to alert you every time your loved one gets out of bed, opens a door, or passes a motion sensor.
• If you have a garage, use only that door to enter and exit the house and be sure to keep the overhead garage door closed.
• Install a chain lock at the very top or very bottom of the door—where it’s out of eyesight and the immediate line of vision for your loved one. These locks should only be used when your loved one is in the home with another responsible adult. Never lock someone inside alone.
• To prevent your loved one from driving alone, hide any car keys in a secure location and/or disconnect the battery if needed.
For other suggestions, to learn more about Respite Care Charleston’s support and services for those living with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, or to volunteer or donate, visit www.RespiteCareCharleston.org or call 843.647.7405.
