A walking program for wanderers: volunteer training and development of an evening walker's group

In this article, the author describes an innovative program for wandering. A walker's group was developed in response to the explicit but nonverbal message from persons with dementia about their need for physical activity. The group was initiated in a nursing home, with volunteers to implement the program under the direction of clinical staff. The article details the volunteer orientation program and specific methods of implementation. The walker's group has been active for more than 4 years and is considered a valuable resource for managing residents who wander during the early evening hours.