Tips to Prevent Wandering!
Posted by nate on April 28, 2011 | No Comments
First off, let your loved one go outside when at all possible, in good weather and when supervision is available. Go outside with them and let them experience new things.
Try these approaches:
- Remove from site triggers that would make them think of going out, such as coats, umbrellas, shoes, purse, etc…
- Tell them where they are and why, in a calm tone of voice. Reassure them with words like, “_____ will return in an hour to be with you” or “Your family knows where you are”.
- Don’t confront or argue with the person, walk with them and redirect to another part of the house or to an activity. Use humor if possible.
- Purchase childproof doorknob covers, or deadbolts to put on the door above eye level, slide bolts on the top or bottom of the door. These items should never be used when they are alone in the home, only when someone is with them.
- Place warning bells above the outside doors, setup a house alarm system, monitors that go on (such as a toddler monitor) or a pressure mat alarm, so at least you know when they left the house.
- Try putting a full-length mirror on the inside of the outside door. Sometimes people don’t recognize themselves and think someone is standing there and turn around and go back.
- Try putting a black throw rug in front of the outside door. To some people, it looks like a hole in the floor and that they won’t attempt to cross it.
- You might try to hide the outside door by putting a curtain in front of it, that way it may not be seen.
- Put a big sign on the outside door saying “Stop” or “Do Not Enter” or “Danger- Do not Open”
- Sew ID labels in clothes, or get a special Medic alert bracelet. Also, have a current picture and a piece of unwashed clothes (for tracking dogs) handy to give to the police, in case they wander out.
- If your loved one doesn’t recognize his or her home, they may want to leave to go “Home”. They may be thinking of a home they lived in previously, such as in their childhood. Instead of telling them that this is their home, talk about the home they are thinking of. Reminiscing about it sometimes lessens their urge to leave.
- If they still want to go “home” tell them you will walk with them, and take a walk with them or tell them that you will drive them there, and take them out for a drive. It may help if you stop to get a treat, an ice cream cone, or snack. They probably will have forgotten about the other home by the time you get back, and may even recognize where they live now as home.
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