Articles

What to do when your client wanders

13/04/2017

To find that your client has wandered away while you are out, is a very worrying thing. It is even more worrying when you know that your client has Dementia. When our client walks off – wandering- as it is called, we should understand that in the case of dementia, they are not aimlessly wandering. They are in fact doing something. They have a very definite plan in mind, but due to dementia, they have become confused. Surroundings have changed, people are different, in fact their whole life has altered.

To better understand why your client is wandering, you should try to speak to family or friends who knew your client in years gone by. You will often find that at a certain time, they did a certain thing. For example, at 8 am they would catch the bus to work, or at 3pm the children came home from school and tea was ready. 

You may find that at these times, your client now becomes restless. He may head for the door at 8 am, he is (in their minds) going to catch that bus. In the afternoon, your client may hover in the kitchen – she is going to wait for the children to come for tea. 

A staggering 6 people in 10 will ‘wander’. This is not normally an issue when you and your client are inside the house. Outside, however, presents a huge amount of problems. Your job as their carer is to make sure that going out is a relaxed event for both of you. Easier said than done! 

Some reasons your client will wander:
- They are searching for someone or something.

- They don’t like the place where they are – it may be too noisy, not light enough, too cold or hot.

- Basic needs – they know they need to find the bathroom, but it is not where it was in the house they grew up in.

- It is their old routine.

- They may be bored and be looking for something they used to do, such as dead heading the roses, or making jam.

There are some things that you can do to reduce your client’s ‘wandering’ in the house and outside. One way is to have a structure, a routine which you both can follow. If you know that at a certain time your client gets restless, change the routine. Do something different, which will serve as a distraction. Plan your activities around that time, it will take their mind off the idea of walking around.

Always make sure that your client has been to the bathroom and is not walking around trying to find it, and then soils themselves. Some clients need to use the bathroom at regular times, make sure you understand this, and are there to show them where it is.  

When going out with your client you should try to avoid places that will confuse them even more. People with dementia do not like noise and confusion, it will cause disorientation. If you are out of their sight for just a moment, they will panic and seek quiet and solitude.

If your client keeps trying to go outside, you may need to lock doors. It is important that before you do this, you speak to family and get permission, because this is actually a form of abuse. Once they have agreed that you may keep doors locked, make sure the keys – including car keys - are out of sight at all times. 

If your client gets up in the night and walks around, consider a pressure mat beside the bed, which will buzz in your room and alert you when they get up. You may also consider using a night light to ensure that if wandering happens, they will be able to see, and not fall over things.

Never leave your dementia client alone at home, or unsupervised in the car while you run into a shop. 

Even though – in an ideal world – your client may never leave your side when you go out, accidents do happen. Distractions occur when you last expect them to. It is a good idea to have some sort of identification on your client. This may be in the shape of a small card with name, address, contact phone number of family and carer on it. Have it laminated and keep it in a pocket of their coat, or use a safety pin to the inside of a jacket. That way, if you do get separated, someone will be able to contact you.