Understanding Wandering

What is wandering?

Wandering refers to the need to keep on the move, often seen in people with Alzheimer's disease.

• The wandering behaviour may appear to be aimless or confused but it is often quite focused.
• The person may be trying to get to a particular destination or accomplish a task such as meeting someone or going to work.
• Wandering may occur at any time of the day or night, and may take the person out of the home.
• Wandering outdoors can expose the person to such dangers as traffic or extreme weather conditions.

What causes wandering?

• Wandering is a common behaviour for a person with Alzheimer's disease.
• It is a direct result of physical changes in the brain, leading the person to want to move about, search for someone or something or remove themselves from their current surroundings.
• Wandering, like walking, is not in itself a dangerous activity. But short-term memory loss and the impaired ability to reason or to make sound judgments can contribute to unsafe wandering behaviour.

How can wandering be managed?

• In itself, wandering is not a harmful behaviour.
• When done in a safe environment, it can be a healthy physical and mental outlet for a person with Alzheimer's disease.
• Channeling wandering into a safe activity involves looking at all the potential triggers of the behaviour.
• By determining what may be contributing to the behaviour, it may then be possible to figure out ways to manage it.
• See the Managing Wandering page for more suggestions.