3 Ways Our Secure Memory Care Center Prevents Dementia Wandering

Dementia wandering is a nightmare. 

Imagine that you walk into your home only to discover that your loved one is not there. They were there earlier, but have since wandered to another location. Panic envelops you:

Are they wandering down the street?

Are they lost? 

Are they in danger?

A Memory Care Unit—like the one at Coastal Pointe—can give you peace of mind knowing that your loved one is in a safe and secure unit that prevents dementia wandering. We invite you to take a tour and explore the many options available to those whose family members have Alzheimer’s or other dementias. 

In this article, we’ll take a closer look at how we can help keep your loved one safe through preventing the wandering that comes with dementia. 

3 Ways We Help Prevent Dementia Wandering

1. A Secure Physical Environment

We know that the first step in preventing dementia wandering is ensuring that the environment is safe and secure. We utilize keypad locks and alarmed doors. Any outdoor areas that our memory care residents have access to are enclosed. This means patients have the freedom to move without the risk of wandering.

2. An Extensively Trained Staff

Our dedicated, compassionate health care team has received specific, detailed training on how to care for those with memory issues caused by Alzheimer’s or other dementias. Our staff can quickly respond to any signs of restlessness, which may lead to wandering. 

But more than mere monitoring, our staff takes time to build a familial level of trust, establishing close relationships so they can be better prepared to meet our residents’ needs.

3. Personalized Care Plans

We work with your health care team to create a comprehensive care plan that is specifically tailored to fit the needs of your loved one. Often, these plans involve therapeutic activities like music, art, or even reminiscence therapy. 

By redirecting energy and participating in engaging, yet stress-free activities, our residents can avoid the agitation that often comes with dementia wandering. 

Why Is Wandering So Common in Those With Dementia?

Six in 10 people with dementia will wander at least once, according to information from the Alzheimer’s Association. It’s not unusual for many with Alzheimer’s or other dementias to wander repeatedly, causing extensive stress on family members and caregivers.

While not everyone with dementia wanders, those who are at greater risk of wandering may:

• Forget how to get to familiar places
• Talk about former occupations or obligations, such as having to go to school or go to work (after they’ve long since retired).
• Demand to go home even though they are already home
• Show signs of restlessness and agitation
• Become anxious in a new environment
• Ask where former family and friends are, even if they have passed away

What Causes Wandering With Dementia?

Dementia wandering is very common due to the way the disease affects the brain. As dementia progresses, it damages the regions responsible for memory and spatial awareness, making it difficult for those affected to recognize their surroundings, follow familiar routines, or even identify their own family members.

Those with dementia also have difficulty with spatial recall, making it challenging to remember locations and even where something is in relation to another object or place.

If the environment becomes distressing, they are overwhelmed by a desire to escape this stress. However, wandering can also be triggered by something simple, such as going to the bathroom or being thirsty. 

How Does the Design of a Memory Care Community Help Prevent Wandering?

Our memory care community is carefully designed to keep our residents in a safe environment that is stimulating but not overwhelming.

Some ways the design of the memory care center helps include:

Using “color zoning” to color code certain areas so residents always know where they are inside the community.

• Using a small box or display with familiar pictures outside their room door. It helps them find their room without depending upon extensive directions.
• Utilizing large-print signage that is easy to read.
• Providing active engagement that is stimulating, but not overbearing. This helps contribute to a peaceful space. 
• Securing exits and having enclosed courtyards to prevent residents from wandering away from the facility.

How Do Staff Members Help Prevent Wandering?

While secure exits—and even GPS tracking—have their place in the prevention of dementia wandering, they are only part of a bigger picture. A large role of our staff in preventing wandering is within getting to know the residents. 

Through this targeted engagement, we learn about activities that they love and we encourage their participation in group activities. This is done to reduce restlessness. 

As we mentioned earlier, our staff has received extensive training on how to help those with dementia, and we know that consistency and daily routines can go a long way toward keeping residents calm. 

We’re also keenly aware that the time of day also plays a large role—many with dementia may have “sundowning,” where symptoms appear worse in the night and evening. 

We also take time to brief other staff members during shift changes to help ensure that all our Memory Care residents get a constant continuum of excellent, compassionate care. 

Do Memory Care Residents Have Freedom to Move Around?

Memory care residents have the freedom to move around within the secure Memory Care unit. Residents cannot leave this unit without direct, one-on-one supervision to reduce the risk of wandering. 

Discover Why Our Residents Love Living at Coastal Pointe

With 28 secured beds in our Memory Care Unit, we help residents who are facing the challenges of living with dementia. You can rest assured that your loved one will be kept safe in an environment that is safely stimulating to prevent restlessness.

This enables you to step out of the role of caregiver and back into your role of son, daughter, or spouse.

Interested in learning more? We invite you to take a tour and discover how Coastal Pointe can provide the care and peace of mind needed.