Wandering is a very common issue among people with dementia, such as Alzheimer's disease. Not only is this very troubling for family members, your loved one could end up in grave danger because of this wandering. To help keep a loved one as safe as possible, the following advice might prove helpful.

There are typically two big contributing factors to wandering in people with Alzheimer's or any type of dementia. The first is confusion about their surroundings as well as time and place. The second factor is restlessness, which is a common problem among those with dementia. Many people mistakenly believe that their loved one will be less confused living at home than at a community for assisted living in San Diego, but often your loved one will not recognize their home or believe that they actual should be in a home in which they lived previously.

It can be very tough for caregivers to be able to watch a person around the clock, but there are a few ways to improve safety for your loved one if he or she lives at home rather than in assisted living in Oceanside. For instance, you can make sure that they have a wallet with identification. Of course, this could be left behind, so wearing a medical alert bracelet could help increase safety. Another option is to sew a patch inside a favorite jacket or sweater that provides information for anyone who might find your loved one wandering.

Nighttime can be a particularly difficult and confusing time of day for people with any type of dementia. Often a person will have trouble sleeping and be up pacing the floor or become agitated as the sun goes down, and this increases the likelihood of wandering. Creating a busy, but stress-free schedule for your loved one can help. This will include planned mealtimes and an early dinner hour, as well as some type of exercise as well as a few engaging activities. These activities don't have to be difficult. It could include working on a puzzle, sweeping the back porch, folding laundry, setting the table and helping wash dishes. Exercise might be a short walk with the family dog or perhaps a swim class or some light dancing, it all depends on their physical abilities. At the end of a full day with plenty of activities, it can be easy for someone to fall into a solid, deep sleep.

In some cases, families do resort to taking stronger measures to ensure the safety of a family member. Placing locks high up on the front door or using child-proof devices on doors and windows can make it difficult for a person to leave. Installing door monitors that signal when a door has opened also can alert someone that your loved one is leaving the house. Ask some kind neighbors to keep an eye out and give you a quick call if they see your loved one wandering around the neighborhood. If the battle to keep your loved one safe gets to be too much, it can be smart to look into a residence for assisted living in San Diego County.

While there is no facility that can guarantee 100% safety all of the time, assisted living in San Diego usually is much safer than being at home. The risk of wandering is lower because the facility is set up specifically to keep stress levels low and manage the symptoms of dementia. The staff is trained to handle dementia-related issues and someone is there all day and night. When searching for a facility, be sure that you select a community that is designed for people with Alzheimer's or any other type of dementia.