Thanks for this interesting and helpful article.

While my mother was in a nursing home, I used to take other residents around the premises (of course with the knowledge and consent of the staff)--a couple being in wheelchairs and one walking behind his rollator. I'm not sure (or can't recall) whether the latter, a 93 y/o man, had been ever considered a "wanderer". He had a monitor on his ankle that would trip off the alarm of the building if he left it unsupervised, but over the course of many hours of conversations with him, it was apparent he was still very sharp mentally (which was an incentive for me to spend time with him because I enjoyed the conversations so much). One day he was found outside, along the driveway close to the street, and was accused of "wandering". However, I suspect in his case, he simply hadn't been told that he shouldn't go beyond a certain point without supervision.

I wonder if others have experienced anything like this. Sometimes the answer might be as simple as an instruction for someone who is still mentally aware. (Of course with many others, this would be an exercise in futility!)

My mother, who is legally blind and has early stage dementia, "wanders" constantly to 8 regular locations, with the aid of Metro Mobility and taxis. She lives in an assisted living apartment, much to her disgust. To allow her complete freedom of movement, her regular destinations have someone discreetly meet her and make sure she is never left alone; and I keep her Metro pass card filled so she doesn't get stranded without the means to pay for her rides. She sticks tightly to her schedule and becomes extremely agitated when she cannot make new drivers understand her needs. Metro has most kindly tried to assign regular drivers to her routes, but the new ones are subjected to her acerbic tongue. I'm afraid if she gets too verbally abusive, her "missionary" assignments and days will be over.

My parents have the smart sole through gtxcorp.com. They had the gps watch and bracelets but removed them cause they felt like prisoners but this is a rechargeable gps waterproof device in the sole of a shoe. Now when they wander, they don't remove it cause they don't really know it's there, and if they do remember they don't care cause it's not visible. The cost is about $300 initially for the gps smart sole and the service is $35 a month for each, that's much cheaper than i was paying and peace of mind also. Most of the time when they wander off, they put their shoes on, so i just type in my pin and passcode and find them immediately. Peace of mind is worth it.

I am trying to get Mom's assisted living facility to understand that when Mom exhibits behaviors like pacing, they should not race for the Lorazepam, but consider which of her needs are not being met. I plan to print your article for the Director of Nursing for her to share with the staff. Thank you!

This is a complete, detailed and helpful article.

This was a big issue with my Dad who was placed in two locked facilities before the one he is now, which has been able to deal with wandering much better. The facility he is now in, has 5 small cottages on the grounds. Each have the same lay out and each hold up to 14 residents. They are all behind locked and high fencing, but within those grounds, no doors are locked and there are many paved paths for walking; two gazebos with water for rest and many benches to stop and sit a bit. Those who wander are known by staff and assigned constantly to a specific staff member who must account for them every 15 minutes, especially in the summer heat of Tucson. So wanderers can always be seen walking the paths, going in and out doors of various cottages and may take part in an activity in a cottage they do not live in. They are encouraged to stop and join any activity along the way and watched for being 'too tired' or over heated etc. After dark, a staff member goes with them or monitors the walking. Meds have helped my Dad regain the ability to sleep longer at night and to regain weight and after being there a couple months, the wandering got less and less. And yes, they use the diversion tactics of finding 'chores' for him to do when they figure out WHEN he tends to wander. He 'assists' the maintenance man because Dad was always a fix it kind of guy. He can't fix anything anymore, but he loves to be a 'helper' to anyone else. When we visit, he often talks about all the 'work' he did all day long....much of it not in reality....but working was such a part of his basic personality, this keeps him feeling 'ok' in his mind. When at home, on a daily basis, just as he hit the 'sundowning' hours, my Mom would go out shopping!! This created some awful situations and she could not alter her behavior so eventually he could not be left at home with her.