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Why do Parents Wander?

Explaining Wandering Parents: Important Facts About Alzheimer’s  

Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia. Dementia is the term used to describe a whole group of diseases that have to do with memory loss and diminished cognitive functions. In addition to being one of the top causes of death in the US, it also has no cure and no proven method to prevent or slow it down. People with Alzheimer's may wander around their neighborhood, often forgetting where they are going or where they live. It is crucial to understand why they are like this to be able to help them.

 
Here are some important facts about Alzheimer's disease.

More than 6 million people are living with Alzheimer's. [1]
Deaths from the disease have increased by 16% during the Covid 19 pandemic.
One in three seniors dies from it or another dementia.
It kills more people than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined.

Symptoms Of Alzheimer's

The symptoms of Alzheimer's progressively get worse over time. Key symptoms are memory loss, problems speaking, problems with spatial awareness, reading or writing, and personality or behavior changes. Memory loss may cause your loved one to wander or get lost. This is because they can have difficulty retaining new or old information.

Why Do Parents Wander?

A wandering adult may be searching for something, trying to get to a place they remember. This could be a search for somewhere they like to go, their home or their old workplace. They can’t remember the instructions given to stay home or in the car, because they can’t retain new information well. Sometimes a new routine agitates them. They often want to go home even when they are already home.
 
You can prevent your parent from wandering by making your home more secure by putting locks on doors, getting a location tracking device for them, securing car keys, and making sure they are never alone. You can manage their behavior by making sure they get enough sleep and physical exercise and by keeping them occupied with activities.

 If your parent or loved one wanders away, call the police immediately, alert friends and family, and keep making updates on social media so others can be on the lookout.


[1] Alzheimer's Association. Alzheimer's Disease's Facts and Figures.

https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/facts-figures