The patient/caregiver was educated on measures to reduce risk for wandering behavior in Alzheimer’s patients as follows:
- Caregivers must provide periodical reminders for restroom visits at defined time intervals and deliberate attempts to empty the bladder can help reduce incontinence episodes. Caregivers can also place reminders for the same on the patient’s phone or leave reminders posted on the wall in patient’s room, with time marked in bold for the scheduled restroom visit. Individuals needing help for clean-up after restroom use must be attended to promptly, as this helps to maintain their hygiene and timely change of diaper if needed. Timely addressing the hygiene concerns of the individual can reduce the anxiety of the individual, thereby, reducing the risk for wandering.
- Caregivers can consider reducing administering fluids up to two hours before scheduled bedtime, which can reduce the need to use and find the bathroom during the night, thus contributing to reduced risk for wandering away in the night.
- Many Alzheimer’s patients severely compromised on their mental abilities yet retain the procedural memory regarding performance of some tasks, such as, driving. Gaining access to the car keys can be extremely dangerous to themselves and also to the general public on the road. Caregivers must make sure they block the access of the Alzheimer’s patient to all the vehicle keys by locking them safely in a cabinet and keeping the key off reach for the individual.
- Caregivers must also encourage the Alzheimer’s patients to limit or avoid drinking alcoholic beverages. Alcohol intake can add more dizziness and confusion to the Alzheimer’s patient, which can steeply increase their risk for wandering.
