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Wandering behaviour in people with dementia.
Claudia K Y Lai1, David G Arthur
1School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hunghom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China. hsclai@polyu.edu.hk
Journal of Advanced Nursing
|October 3, 2003
Summary
Wandering in dementia is complex, with limited research on its causes and effective interventions. More research is needed to understand this challenging behavior and improve care for individuals with dementia.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Wandering is a significant challenge in dementia care.
- Limited research exists on the phenomenon of wandering.
- Existing literature provides a basis for understanding wandering behavior.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current literature on wandering in dementia.
- To analyze the nature, classification, prevalence, and etiology of wandering.
- To evaluate intervention strategies for managing wandering behavior.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive literature search was conducted using eight databases.
- Keywords included 'wandering' and 'dementia'.
- 133 articles published over 40 years (up to Feb 2003) were reviewed.
Main Results:
- Prevalence of wandering is difficult to determine.
- Wanderers are often younger, more cognitively impaired males with sleep issues and active lifestyles.
- Biomedical, psychosocial, and environmental factors are implicated; interventions lack proven effectiveness.
Conclusions:
- Current knowledge is insufficient to fully explain wandering in dementia.
- Inconsistent definitions and small sample sizes limit generalizability.
- Future research requires clearer definitions, targeted populations, and robust methodologies.