Any suggestions to help with wandering?
I arrived to the ladies house that I'm a caregiver for and she was on the next block with her purse on her shoulder. I stopped and asked her to get in and we would go home. She started yelling and refused to get in. I drove to her house and texted her daughter and asked what she wanted me to do. I sat outside with my keys and I was going to find her in 5 minutes when she showed up. I explained to her that if I hadn't been able to find her I would have called the police. She wasn't concerned of course and her daughter said just don't make a big deal out of it. What should I have done?
I am sure that community members will chime in with their experiences. It sounds like you are struggling with what you are experiencing with the person you are caring and the family's experience with her. I can only imagine how difficult that can be. While this doesn't help with her refusal to get into the car, perhaps you could talk with the family about a potential GPS tracking device should she start to wander more and more. Warmly, Patty, Team Member 
Hi @vickig, Patti's suggestion is a good one, there are things you can conceal in her clothes, or bag that you know she favors, or on her keyring, if she brings them.
If it happens again and you want her to get in the car, try maybe saying how great it is to see her and you were just on your way to the store, would she like a lift? Or perhaps that it's delightful to see her and you were just thinking of a cup of tea, would she like to join you? I hope these might prove helpful. - Warmly, Donna (team member)
thank you so much for reaching out. I am glad the woman you care for was found and safe. I have unfortunately experienced the feeling of when someone with Alzheimer's Diagnosis goes missing. It's frightening and terrifying to say the very least.
If you haven't already done so, having a conversation with the woman you care for daughter is necessary. It is OK to ask what the safety plan is and if she has a history of wandering.
I commend you for reaching out to our community to try to research and get some possible solutions. I can tell you are compassionate and caring. I have enclosed an article on wandering. There is a lot of information that will hopefully be helpful to you. Understanding with this disease is very important.
https://alzheimersdisease.net/symptoms/wandering
I also am in agreement that potentially use of a tracking device would be helpful. Again. this is something you might want to have a conversation with the family about. I have attached an article that might be helpful to you. https://alzheimersdisease.net/living/innovations-location-devices
Hope this is helpful to you. Please keep us posted! Just Keep Swimming...Lynn Marie, "AlzheimersDIsease.net Team Member"Both of these articles are amazing and so helpful. I will definitely reach out to the family and maybe since they did get a positive diagnosis of Alzheimer's they will be more responsive.
