For north Texas adult children and spouses who are caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease, wandering is one of the most difficult and frightening behaviors to safely manage. While much remains unknown about this debilitating disease, experts do have some theories about wandering. Many believe the behavior may be caused by unmet needs and an inability to communicate them due to lost language skills.

Older adults with Alzheimer’s disease might not recognize their surroundings and wander off to look for “home.” Or they may be hungry or thirsty and go in search of food or water. An urge to use the bathroom and not know how to find it is believed to be another cause of wandering. Whatever it is that leads a senior to wander, the result is anxiety and stress for adult children and family caregivers in and around Dallas and Fort Worth. [Read more…]