Wandering Minds and Feet of the Alzheimer's Patient

Wandering becomes a critical part of Alzheimer's and something families find difficult to cope with. 

The Alzheimer's victim's mind wanders off the topic at hand and reverts to the past or something they see or someone in the room does.  This isn't necessarily dangerous, simply very frustrating.

However, wandering feet can endanger the Alzheimer's patient.  They apparently have in their mind a destination but it isn't a practical one.  They may leave the house (or wherever they are) in all kinds of weather and in inappropriate dress.  You may find them (hopefully you or someone you know does) on a city street, in your neighborhood, in the woods, along a country road or on a busy highway.

Keeping Alzheimer's patients where you know their whereabouts becomes a serious challenge at some point in their care.

Mark Warner has some good ideas on this topic to help the caregiver, as well as the wanderer, in In Search of the Alzheimer's Wanderer: A Workbook to Protect You.

I was involved in the care of both my mom and my aunt (Mother's sister) who developed Alzheimer's and who reached the wandering stage.  They would try to (and occasionally did) leave the house in all kinds of weather when they made up their minds about reaching a particular destination.  They could not understand why you wouldn't let them.