Are there any strategies that help with the management of wandering in persons with dementia?
• A research project recently reported that there is no robust evidence to recommend any specific non-drug interventions to reduce wandering in dementia (Robinson et al 2006). There was some evidence, although of poor quality, for the effectiveness of exercise and providing multi-sensory environments. • Random wandering is the most common pattern and is known to be influenced by noise, activity and other environmental stimuli and is often amenable to distraction and diversion. The more tailored made the distraction, the more likely it is to get the persons interest. • Lapping type of wandering is known to occur more often early in day or after periods of rest. As lapping is associated with orientation and searching, interventions aimed at accompanying the person and helping them with their orientation and searching can be helpful. • Pacing is the least common type of wandering. Because it is linked to anxiety, fear or anger, it is often the least responsive to distraction or diversions
