March 11, 2024

Alzheimer's Disease and Wandering in Oakbrook, IL

Understanding the Connection Between Alzheimer's and Wandering

When we think of Alzheimer's disease, we often imagine a person struggling with memory loss. But at the same time, we tend to forget about all the other symptoms of the disease. This was the case for Jack and Carla, siblings caring for their 82-year-old mother, Mary. When Mary started having memory issues, Jack and Carla didn't realize they'd need to be prepared for other symptoms. One day, Jack visited to pick Mom up for her weekly bingo session at church. When he didn't find her in her usual spot, the living room, he frantically went looking for her throughout the house. Still unable to find her, Jack went door to door asking neighbors for help. Fortunately, he finally found Mom two doors down, admiring the flowers in Ms. Cleo's garden, where he and his sister played as children.

What Is Wandering?

This was Jack's introduction to dementia wandering. He didn't realize that seemingly normal memory problems could lead to such danger. After some research, Jack learns that wandering is often an indicator of Alzheimer's disease. People feel they have no place to go and no real direction—they just feel the need to move around. It can be triggered by the desire to look for someone, a lack of sleep or general boredom.

Know Who's at Risk for Wandering

Now that Jack knows more about wandering and Alzheimer's disease, he reports back to his sister, Carla. Now that he mentions it, Carla can think of several times that Mom showed risk factors for wandering. She tells Jack about these warning signs they missed:

Mom would talk about her plans to go to work the next day—even though she's been retired for over 15 years.
Sometimes, Mom would profess her want to "go home," even though she was already in her living room.
A few times, Mom asked about Carla's friend Janine, even though Mom should know that Carla hasn't spoken to Janine in over 30 years.
Mom seems very anxious in crowds, even though she's never shown such nerves before

Preventing Alzheimer's Disease Wandering

With their new-found knowledge about Alzheimer's disease wandering, Jack and Carla take steps to prevent this from ever happening again. They learn that wandering can be beneficial only if done in a secure environment. To help Mom wander safely, they take the following steps:

Ensuring her basic needs are met—lack of sleep, hunger and boredom can increase the likelihood of wandering.
Avoiding busy places that can cause unnecessary confusion
Always locking the doors and windows when Mom is home alone
Helping Mom maintain a consistent routine.
Getting an ID bracelet with a built-in GPS in case Mom wanders off despite their best efforts.

Contact BrightStar Care Today

Understanding the connection between Alzheimer's disease and wandering is essential to keeping your loved one safe. If they begin to show signs of dementia like Mary did, consider asking for professional help. In addition to seeing your loved one's physician, seek extra care from the team at BrightStar Care. We help families in Oakbrook, IL and the surrounding towns provide top-notch care to people living with Alzheimer's. Contact us today to learn more about our in-home services.