The study of wandering in persons with senile dementia

Abstract

Wandering in persons with senile dementia of the Alzheimer type represents a problematic behavior for people with dementia and their caregivers. Ideally, the demented individual's environment should be modified to safely contain or control wandering. To achieve a therapeutic environment for the wanderer, it will be necessary to objectively evaluate the impact that specific environmental modifications have on wandering behavior. Until recently, research on wandering behavior has been without suitable methodology. However, several methods and techniques are currently available to measure wandering. These wandering assessment tools and techniques are reviewed in this paper. Also presented in this paper are the results of this author's methodological study in which a reliable and valid device was developed and tested for the purpose of measuring wandering. This new device is called a Stepsensor. Preliminary testing shows the Stepsensor prototype to be a highly reliable and valid tool for the measurement of wandering. Hence, the methodology to study wandering is available. Research on wandering is one of the keys to the provision of a therapeutic environment for individuals with senile dementia.