Safe Wandering in Dementia Patients: Prevention Strategies for Families

Families may find themselves in new situations where behaviour changes lead to new safety issues when a loved one is living with dementia. The most common problem is wandering, when someone with dementia can leave a place they know and get lost or get confused and think they are in a different time and place from what they are.

Families can make their home safer and preserve independence and dignity for their loved one with dementia while minimising risk and understanding the reasons for wandering. Dementia care takes a holistic approach to dementia care, ensuring that every individual is understood in terms of their needs, preferences and routines.

What Is Wandering in Dementia?

Wandering describes movement or walking behaviour that may place a person at risk because they become unable to recognise where they are, remember their destination or safely return.

A person living with dementia may:

• Walk around the home repeatedly
• Try to leave the house without recognising the risks
• Search for a familiar person or place
• Become confused in unfamiliar environments
• Walk during the night due to disrupted sleep patterns

Wandering is often linked to cognitive decline, memory loss and changes in the way the brain processes information. It can happen in different types of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia. Early understanding of behaviour changes is important.

Families may also find it helpful to read about Stages of Dementia: What Families Should Expect to understand how dementia-related changes can appear before safety concerns develop.

Why Do Dementia Patients Wander?

There is no single reason why someone with dementia wanders. The behaviour is usually connected to physical, emotional, or environmental triggers.

Physical Causes of Wandering

Dementia affects the brain’s ability to process memories, surroundings, and decisions. This can lead to confusion and disorientation.

Common physical causes include:

• Difficulty recognising familiar places
• Forgetting where they are going
• Needing the toilet but being unable to explain it
• Pain, discomfort or hunger
• Medication side effects
• Changes in sleep patterns

For example, someone may wake during the night and believe they need to go to work, look after children or complete a daily task from their past.

Emotional Causes of Wandering

Wandering can also be connected to feelings and emotions.

A person may walk because they are:

• Looking for someone important to them
• Feeling anxious or unsettled
• Trying to return to a previous home
• Experiencing boredom or lack of stimulation
• Seeking comfort through familiar routines

Understanding the reason behind the behaviour is often more effective than simply trying to stop the person from walking. 

For detailed info, read Creating Safe Environments: Practical Tips for Dementia Home Safety in Birmingham.

Signs of Wandering Behaviour Families Should Notice

Identifying early signs can enable families to take action before a person becomes unsafe. Possible signs include:

Possible signs include:

• Frequently asking to “go home” even when they are already home
• Repeatedly approaching doors/exits while walking towards them
• Becoming restless at certain times of the day
• Following others when they leave a room or building
• Showing increased confusion in unfamiliar places
• Having forgotten conversations or plans from recently

How Can Families Reduce Wandering Risk?

The aim of dementia safety is not to remove all movement. Staying active and walking safely can support wellbeing, confidence, and quality of life.

The most effective approach is to understand personal patterns and create supportive surroundings.

• Create a Safe Home Environment
• Maintain a Consistent Dementia Daily Routine
• Support Safe Walking for Dementia Patients

How To Use Technology to Support Dementia Safety

Technology can provide extra reassurance for families, especially when someone has a higher risk of leaving a safe area.

Options may include:

Door Alarms for Dementia Patients

Door alarms can alert carers when a person approaches an exit. They can be useful during periods when additional supervision is needed.

GPS Trackers for Dementia Patients

GPS devices may help families locate someone quickly if they become lost. They should always be used respectfully and alongside personal care approaches.

Dementia Identification Bracelets

Identification bracelets can provide important information if a person becomes separated from their family or carers.

Technology should support care, not replace human attention, communication and personalised support.

The Herbert Protocol: Supporting a Faster Response

Families in the UK can also consider the Herbert Protocol, a national initiative designed to help the police respond quickly when a person with dementia goes missing.

The scheme involves recording important information about the person, such as:

• Places they may try to visit
• Previous addresses
• Favourite walking routes
• A recent photograph
• Personal details that may help identification

Having this information prepared in advance can save valuable time during an emergency.

The Herbert Protocol works best as part of a wider dementia emergency plan that includes family contacts, medical information, and clear steps for responding to a missing person situation.

Conclusion

Caring for a person with dementia involves balancing the need to keep them safe with maintaining their independence. Sometimes, complete restriction of movement will result in more frustration or distress. One-to-one support helps people with dementia to feel valued and understood.

Dementia care at Marian House, Sutton Coldfield, is about providing care and support in a way that is appropriate for the individual’s history, preferences and care needs, and is provided in a supportive environment.

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