When people with dementia walk - summary and further information

• Walking may be just a phase: eventually the person with dementia may stop trying to get up and go places.
• Walking may appear aimless, but almost certainly has a purpose behind it, even if the person with dementia cannot explain his or her reasoning very clearly.
• In order to best deal with the situation of a person with dementia who is walking, consider the reasons why the person is walking.
• There is no such thing as a completely risk-free environment: but you can minimise risks.

• If you can let the person walk freely in a safe area, do so.
• You can make the house safer for a person with dementia walking around at home
• You can set up simple alarms so that the person you are caring for cannot go out without your knowledge.
• Remember that walking, or other forms of regular gentle exercise, may actually help someone with dementia keep her or his mind in better shape.
• If a person with dementia is walking because of too much energy, it may help if he or she can join an exercise class.
• You may be able to divert the person with dementia from wanting to walk by giving her or him a clear task to perform.
• Make sure that the person has a contact phone number on him or her at all times when outside the house.
• Tell neighbours and other people in advance that the person has dementia and may get lost or confused.
• Make sure the person's home is easily identifiable from the street to help both the person with dementia and someone trying to help her or him find the house or flat.
• Always have a recent photograph of the person with dementia to hand, and a list of useful information to help identify or find the person.

References

Further useful information and sources used in writing this information sheet: 

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