The 5 O'Clock Wanderer

If your loved one wanders at the same time every day, it might be linked to a lifelong routine. For example, if your dad tries to leave the house every day at 5 p.m. he may believe he's going home from work. 

Here are a few tips that can prevent your loved one from wandering:

• Try offering your loved one a snack, a glass of water or use of the bathroom. Encourage physical activity to curb his or her restlessness and promote better sleep.
• Try providing  visual cues. People who have Alzheimer's often forget where they are, even inside their own homes. It might help to post signs on the doors to various rooms, such as the bathroom, bedroom and kitchen. Encourage your loved one to explore his or her immediate environment as often as necessary. You may also want to post a Stop sign on doors that are off limits, such as the Basement or a back door that leads outside.
• Try using enjoyable activities and other distractions. If your loved one tends to wander at the same time every day, a planned activity at that hour could stem the wandering. It might be as simple as asking your loved one to fold a basket of towels or put place mats on the table for dinner. If wandering outdoors is an issue, you might want to store coats, boots and keys out of sight.
• If your loved one's wandering isn't related to being upset or having a physical need, you might want to focus simply on providing a safe place for walking or exploration — such as a path through the rooms of your house or a circular trail through a fenced backyard.
• Various devices can alert you that your loved one is on the move. You might place pressure-sensitive alarm mats at the door or at your loved one's bedside, put warning bells on doors and use childproof covers on doorknobs. If your loved one tends to unlock doors, you might install sliding bolt locks out of your loved one's line of sight.
• To short-circuit your loved one's compulsion to wander into off-limits rooms, you might place curtains over doors or camouflage doors with paint or wallpaper that matches the surrounding walls. A mirror or a stop sign on the door might help, too.
• Consider having your loved one wear a GPS or other tracking device that can send electronic alerts about his or her location. If your loved one wanders, the GPS device can help you find him or her quickly.

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