How to Keep Alzheimer Patients from Wandering

Thurman: My name is Thurman, I’m from Nashville, Tennessee. How can I stop my father who has Alzheimer’s from wandering?

Eric Rodrigueze: Well Thurman, you’re wondering how to stop your dad from wandering is a tough task, and my sense is that all the locks and bolts and alarm systems in the world aren’t going to provide the kind of security that your dad needs. If he’s wandering, he needs to be with people who keep an eye on him. And if he’s wandering, it could happen day or night, and night being more likely than daytime. So he really likely needs 24/7 supervision. If family can provide that, that’s fine, but that’s a stretch for lots of families. People have other commitments. They have to work, take care of other family members, they deserve a little life of their own. So your dad may actually need some kind of long term care setting and I’d suggest to you that the level of care that a wandering individual needs is typically at least assisted living, perhaps in a dementia unit where there’s a tension to avoiding risks like wandering.


Transcription by: Scribe4you Transcription Services