Try: Allow cr to wander if the environment is safe and secure place familiar objects furniture and pictures in surroundings help direct cr with clearly marked rooms using name plaques pictures or a decorated door remove items that trigger cr’s desire to go out such as shoes coat purse keys etc try locks on doors that are out of reach or sight install slide bolts on top or bottom of outside door distract cr with food activity or conversation place night lights throughout the home consider using a beanbag chair for sitting and resting they are comfortable yet difficult to get out of without assistance provide cr with some type of identification such as medic-alert bracelet labels sewn into clothing emergency cards in wallets purse or pocket

Materials: Slide bolt door locks night lights beanbag chair id bracelet wallet sized id cards clothing labels

Categories: Sage, Topic, Behavior Challenging, Emotional Psychological, Medical Physical, Independence, Some Supervision, Maximum Supervision, Cognitive Awareness, Somewhat Aware, Unaware, Long-Term Memory, So-So L T Memory, Poor L T Memory, Short-Term Memory, So-So S T Memory, Poor S T Memory

Information: n/a

References: mental health mental illness healthy aging a nh guide for older adults and caregivers by nami nh 2001 available at www nami org

Keywords: Wayfinding wandering wanders off distracted distractions wants to go home wants to leave home safety challenging behavior disoriented disorientation

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed