[1] Although it occurs in several types of dementia, wandering is especially common in people with Alzheimer's disease (AD).
People with dementia often wander because they are stressed, looking for someone or something, attending to basic needs, engaging in past routines, or with visual-spatial problems.
In the United States, the Alzheimer's Association has developed a program called "Safe Return" that includes assessment tools.
For example, placing a visual barrier such as a curtain or a black area rug across a doorway may mimic a hole, thus discouraging elopement behaviors.
Some cases of wanderers operating vehicles and driving either aimlessly or along a familiar route, road, or highway have been reported.
This RFID tag can be read by receiving antenna units, which are placed usually at door or hallway locations that are deemed likely routes of egress and need monitoring.
The newest types of systems may have the ability to: identify a RFID tag by a specific resident and forward that name to the staff; give staff a last known location of the resident; show a photo of the resident at the staff station with a mapped out door location; report the frequency, times and severity of the incidents; and finally, integrate with other access control systems, HVAC, fire alarm equipment and phone equipment.
This type of system seems to be preferable because it helps monitor those at risk for wandering and elopement while not infringing on the freedom of other residents or visitors to a facility.