Follow
Share

So last night at about 7pm my mother showed up, on foot, at my sister's house. My Sister lives about a 1/2 a mile away from my mother. My mother walked from her house to my sisters house in her pj's and slippers. It has been raining all day so her slippers were soaked through. She said she came because she said her phone wasn't working. When my sister checked the phone was working just fine.


Is this wandering? She remembers doing it. But walking to my sister's house in her pj's and slippers, isn't good judgement... but would it be considered wandering?

This question has been closed for answers. Ask a New Question.
Find Care & Housing
We took her car keys away and she has been fighting with us to get them back! It's CRAZY! She is extremely paranoid and treats me like the enemy. We thought she needed to be in assisted living but she refuses.
Helpful Answer (0)
Report

She has a clinical diagnosis of Mild Cognitive impairment with Amnesiac episodes. We are in the very beginning stages of getting her diagnosed. She still needs to see the neurologist-psychologist. We couldn't get an appointment with one until December.
Helpful Answer (0)
Report

LoLo, I don't know what the specific definition of wandering is, in terms of dementia, but I think it does reflect a lack of judgment and executive functioning (a word another poster uses which very well describes these kinds of situations.)

I'm also not sure that whether it officially constitutes "wandering" is the issue, which really is that your mother wasn't able to realize the phone was working, made an unwise decision, and didn't realize that it was unwise and unsafe.

Does she have a Medic Alert pendant? It wouldn't necessarily stop her from wandering, but it would provide a level of safety if she were to fall, especially on slippery sidewalks or pavement, or even grass.

Does she live completely alone? Are there any cameras at her doors that could be monitored remotely? What stage is her dementia?
Helpful Answer (1)
Report

yes, we have been trying to get her into assisted living and she has fought it every step of the way.

So even though she remembers walking to my Sisters house the fact that she didn't think to get dressed or even put walking shoes on constitutes wandering?
Helpful Answer (0)
Report

I think so. Time to evaluate options and protection for your mother. Is she living alone?
Helpful Answer (1)
Report

This question has been closed for answers. Ask a New Question.
Ask a Question
Subscribe to
Our Newsletter