Some sources say six out of every ten people with dementia wander. We know that family members may worry about their senior loved one because they wander, especially if they are forced to leave their loved one alone for lengths at a time. Sometimes family members put extra precautions on their loved one when they are away. Worrying is quite normal and common in these circumstances, but we believe it also should signal making some serious considerations about your senior loved one’s future.
Consider the alternatives at Homeplace, where we not only have a system in place to ensure that your loved one in our memory care unit can wander—and wander safely—but we also take the viewpoint of embracing this part of her life. We encourage them to wander!
This approach is another piece of our person-centered philosophy. With memory care residents, we don’t deny where they are in each of their lives. Some can do certain activities, some can’t. Some remember specifics of their early lives, some don’t. With each, we observe, study, and take our notes so that we can understand precisely where they are. Then we embrace that. This approach extends to wandering. If a resident wants to wander, then we are prepared to help her do it. More importantly, she’ll roam in a safe environment.
The safe environment in the Homeplace memory care unit includes sufficient lighting and a streetscape look with different carpeting that represents roads and laminate that looks like sidewalk. Residents also have the option to wander outside into our closed courtyard, where they can walk on paths and interact with the raised garden beds.
Memory care residents are always assisted by our enhanced staff. Our memory care area holds twenty-four residents, and we have four full-time staff in this area all day, every day. We use technology that notifies staff when a resident has wandered to an area they shouldn’t, such as into another resident’s apartment. And all staff are trained to use redirecting behavior should a resident becomes anxious or frustrated.
Families who have a senior loved one with dementia are dealing with changes from what that senior used to be. Sometimes those changes are drastic. With our philosophy, we don’t fight it. We believe we just have to be in the mindset where the senior is right now in life, not ten or twenty years ago, and if that means letting them wander, then so be it—just as long as it’s safe. This philosophy allows them to continue to walk, to participate, to engage with their fellow residents who are facing similar challenges. It allows them to continue to live their fullest life possible.
To contact the Homeplace of Henderson, email Jessica Beaven at jessica.beaven@homeplaceofhenderson.com, or call at (270)577-0534.