How can I manage habits and reduce the chances that the person I care for gets lost?
There are certain things that may help manage a person’s walking habits and prevent them from getting lost. For example, try to:
- Keep to the routines and activities of the person you care for. Identify the most likely times of the day that their walking may occur and plan activities such as a walk in the park together at that time.
- Reassure the person you care for if they feel lost, abandoned or disoriented, or want to leave to “go home" or “go to work". For example, try saying: “we are staying here tonight. We are safe and I'll be with you. We can go home in the morning after a good night's rest." Try to refrain from correcting the person living with dementia.
- Ensure that all basic needs are met. Has the person gone to the bathroom? Are they thirsty or hungry?
- Avoid busy places that are confusing and can cause disorientation, such as shopping malls, markets, grocery stores or other crowded places.
- Make sure that the person carries some form of identification.
- Make sure that your home is secure, that the person is safe in your home and cannot leave without you knowing. For example, camouflaging doors and doorknobs may help, or using a bell or curtain that makes noise when someone uses the door.
- Keep an up-to-date photograph in case the person you care for gets lost and you must ask for help from others.
- After the person you care for is found, speak calmly, with acceptance and love, try to avoid blaming and showing anger.
Let’s look at an example
Mousa is living with dementia and is supported by his wife, Maha. Maha is cooking dinner when she hears Mousa heading for the door. She knows that he likes to go for afternoon walks, but now is not a good time since she is cooking.
