Month: October 2025

When supporting someone living with dementia, wandering is one of the most common—and often misunderstood—behaviors you may encounter. At first glance, it can feel confusing or even concerning. But here’s something important to remember: wandering, like all behavior, is a form of communication.
Instead of focusing on the movement itself, try asking: What is this person telling me through their actions?

Some possible reasons behind wandering include:

• Searching for a friend, family member, or familiar place

• Feeling unsafe or insecure in their surroundings

• Wanting companionship and connection

• Releasing restlessness or boredom through movement

• Meeting basic needs like hunger, thirst, or using the restroom

• Experiencing pain or discomfort

• Believing the care center is their home and looking for familiar items

• Simply craving variety after being in the same environment too long

When Does Wandering in People with Dementia Become a Concern?

Wandering is not always negative—in fact, it often promotes mobility, provides exercise, and can reduce restlessness. But safety is key. It becomes a concern when:

• A person leaves the care setting (sometimes called elopement)

• They enter unsafe or restricted areas

• They disturb another resident’s personal space

That’s why caregivers play such an important role: encouraging safe movement while protecting the person’s well-being.

Rethinking the Term “Wanderer”

You may have heard someone described as a wanderer. While common, this label can feel limiting—and even disrespectful. In person-centered care, we avoid labels that reduce someone to a single behavior.

Why? Because labels can stop us from asking deeper questions:

• Who is this person looking for?

• What emotions or needs are they expressing?

• When and where does this behavior happen most often?

The truth is, wandering is rarely aimless. It is usually purposeful, even if we don’t immediately understand the purpose.

A More Respectful Approach

Since the terms wandering and wanderer are so widely used, it’s not always easy to remove them from our vocabulary completely. But whenever possible, try to reframe the behavior in a more positive and respectful way:

• Instead of “wanderer,” say “someone who enjoys walking around.”

• Instead of “wandering,” try “exploring” or “looking around.”

Shifting our words helps us shift our view, allowing us to see the individual beyond the behavior towards wandering in people with dementia.

Falls are one of the greatest risks faced by people living with dementia, but with the right awareness and strategies, many falls can be prevented. Caregivers, families, and healthcare providers can work together to create safe, supportive environments and routines. Here’s how you can apply what you’ve learned about minimizing falls.

Know the Person

Every individual with dementia has unique needs, habits, and preferences. Taking the time to understand the person is the foundation of fall prevention. Families and caregivers can start by asking questions such as:

• What is (or was) their daily routine?

• What medications are they taking?

• What is their toileting schedule?

• How do they sleep? Do they nap? Are they used to sharing a bed?

• What are their bathing preferences?

• How is their vision?

• What is their mobility like? Do they use a walker or need extra assistance?

• Will they remember to ask for help, use a walker, or wait until dizziness passes before moving?

• What type of clothing do they prefer?

• What triggers frustration or agitation?

• What helps calm them?

• Have they fallen before? If so, what happened?

• How was their room or living space arranged at home?

Understanding these details helps caregivers predict risks and build routines that make daily activities safer.

Safety in the Environment

Beyond knowing the person, creating a safe environment is key to reducing falls. Small changes can make a big difference. Consider these strategies:

• Encourage safe movement by creating open, easy-to-navigate spaces.

• Keep important items within easy reach.

• Provide sturdy, comfortable chairs that are simple to get in and out of.

• Use assistive devices, such as walkers, canes, or hip protectors.

• Position beds closer to the floor.

• Consider padded flooring for added protection.

• Ensure furniture wheels are locked.

• Add slip-resistant strips and grab bars in bathrooms.

• Remove trip hazards like loose rugs or clutter.

• Improve lighting throughout the home.

• Use clear signs with words and pictures to guide bathroom use.

• Place “rest stops” in hallways with sturdy chairs.

• Choose cleaning products that leave non-glare floors.

Responding Appropriately

Simple adjustments in caregiving can go a long way in preventing falls. For example:

• Improve lighting and reduce glare from shiny surfaces.

• Encourage the person to sit for a moment before standing to avoid dizziness.

• Gently remind them to use walkers or call for help when needed.

• Respond calmly when they are upset, and provide reassurance to reduce anxiety-driven movements.

Fall-Prevention Skills That Make a Difference

Falls happen as people get older because of physical changes. People with dementia are at increased risk of falls because of the changes that are also happening to their thinking abilities. There are many fall-prevention skills and ways that you can keep people with dementia safe and mobile by minimizing the chance of falls.
Remember:

• Learn about people with dementia. Find out about daily routines, if they have a history of falls, and about their family and work routine. All of this will help you understand them and their risk of falling.

• Pay attention to the environment. Watch for things that could cause someone to fall.

• Help people with dementia remain as active as possible. Active people are less likely to be injured due to a fall.

• Help families understand the risk of falls for people with dementia, whether their relative is at risk, and how to reduce falls.