As we age, our brains change and lose some of their abilities. This is normal, but it can be frightening if you’re one of the millions of Americans with a parent or loved one whose brain is struggling with this decline. One aspect of aging that can be particularly problematic is wandering in the elderly. If you’re wondering how to handle this problem or how it affects those living in dementia care in Airlie Court, VA, like ours here at TerraBella Pheasant Ridge, we’ve got answers!
What Is Wandering In the Elderly?
Wandering is when a person with dementia gets up and goes somewhere without telling anyone. It’s also called elopement, which sounds like something you’d do on an island vacation. But for someone with dementia, wandering can be dangerous because they don’t always know where they are or how to get home safely.
If your loved one wanders often and has a history of getting lost in the past, you both need to keep track of each other at all times so that no one gets hurt or lost again!
Why Do People With Dementia Wander?
There are many reasons why people with dementia wander. Some of the most common are:
- In search of a familiar person or place, such as their home or workplace
- To find a place to sleep since they may not feel safe where they currently are
- To escape from a stressful situation (such as being mistreated by someone)
- To get away from loud noises that they find overwhelming
It’s important to note that while wandering can be dangerous for some people with dementia, it doesn’t always mean that the person will try to leave their home. Many people with Alzheimer’s disease want to wander around without causing harm or getting lost in unfamiliar places-and. You can help prevent this by providing them with activities and companionship during their waking hours instead of leaving them alone at all times!
How To Handle A Wandering Incident
The most important thing you can do to help prevent wandering in your loved one is to keep them safe. Here are some tips:
- Use a tracking device. If your elderly parent has already wandered away from home or the place where they live, consider purchasing a GPS that can be attached to their clothing or worn around their neck so you can locate them at all times.
- Set up an alert system with family members or caregivers close by so they can reach out immediately if needed (elderly people may forget where they live). Also, try creating lists together beforehand, so both parties know what steps to take when something happens unexpectedly; this way, both sides will feel secure knowing exactly what needs to be done when dealing with unexpected events.
The Importance Of Dementia Care In An Assisted Living Facility
An assisted living community is a geriatric care community that provides supervision and assistance with daily activities. It’s meant for those golden-age adults who can no longer live independently but do not need the constant medical care of a nursing home.
The benefits of an assisted living community include the following:
- A safe environment where your loved one will have access to 24-hour supervision, assistance with daily activities such as bathing and dressing, medication management, and meal preparation, as well as social interaction with other residents in their community or through organized activities (e.g., bingo games).
- Team members who are trained in dementia care will help your loved one maintain their independence for as long as possible by guiding how best to meet their needs while still respecting their wishes when it comes down to making decisions about what type of lifestyle they want from day-to-day life within this type of setting-which includes everything from meals eaten together versus alone; whether they prefer being outdoors during warmer weather months versus staying most days indoors throughout wintertime months; etc.
Conclusion
In conclusion, we hope you now have a better understanding of wandering in the elderly and the importance of dementia care in an assisted living community. If you or someone you know is struggling with dementia symptoms, please get in touch with us for more information about our programs. We would be happy to help!
