Caregiver guide
Dementia wandering: what stage of dementia is wandering at night, and how to keep your person safe
Wandering, including getting up and leaving at night, is most common in the middle stages of dementia, but it can start at any time. Plan ahead: secure the doors, make sure your person carries ID, keep a recent photo handy, and call 911 right away if they go missing.
What is wandering in dementia?
Wandering is when a person living with dementia walks or drives away, gets lost, or tries to leave a safe place, often without being able to find their way back. It can happen on foot, in a car, or even at a store or doctor's office.
One family told of their dad getting up after midnight, dragging his oxygen tank toward the stairs because he wanted to "check out of the hotel." He was at his own daughter's house. To him, leaving made perfect sense.
That's the key to wandering: it usually has a purpose. Your person may be looking for something, trying to get "home," or heading to a job they left years ago. Understanding the reason helps you prevent it.
What stage of dementia is wandering at night?
Wandering is most common in the middle stages of dementia, when memory loss and confusion are growing but the person can still walk well and open doors. It can start earlier or keep going into later stages.
Night wandering often comes with sundowning and sleep problems. Brain changes can mix up the body clock, so your person may wake up at 2 a.m. ready to start the day. Read our guide to sundowning for ways to make evenings and nights calmer.
Anyone with dementia who can walk is at risk. Don't wait until it happens to plan for it.
Types of wandering in dementia
Looking for something or someone
Searching for a lost item, a spouse, a child or a parent who died long ago.
Going "home"
Trying to get to a childhood home or a place that feels safe, even when they are at home.
Following old routines
Leaving for work, the store or to pick up the kids, as they did for years.
Restlessness
Pacing or walking to burn off energy, boredom, pain or worry.
Getting lost in familiar places
Going for a usual walk or drive and not knowing how to get back.
Escaping discomfort
Leaving a noisy, crowded or confusing place, such as a party or a busy store.
How to keep a dementia patient from wandering
Start by looking for patterns. When does your person try to leave? What happens just before? Then try these ideas:
- Meet basic needs. Check for hunger, thirst, a full bladder, pain or boredom.
- Keep busy days. Daily exercise and simple tasks can ease restlessness and help with sleep.
- Make a safe place to walk. A fenced yard or a loop through the house lets your person move without leaving.
- Hide the "going out" signals. Keep shoes, coats, purses, suitcases and car keys out of sight.
- Reassure, don't argue. If your person says they need to go to work, try "Tell me about your job" and then redirect.
- Watch busy places. Never leave someone who has wandered before alone in a car, a store or a waiting room.
- Think about driving. If your person still has access to a car, talk with the doctor about whether driving is still safe.
Wandering is often one of several behavior changes. See our guide to dementia behavior changes.
Door locks and alarms to keep dementia patients from wandering
Simple changes at the door can buy you precious time:
- Add a lock out of sight, either up high or down low on the door. A keyed deadbolt can also work.
- Use doorknob covers that spin, so the knob is hard to turn.
- Add a door chime or alarm that sounds when a door opens, including at night.
- Disguise the door with a curtain, a mural, or a poster, or paint it to match the wall.
- Put a STOP or DO NOT ENTER sign on doors you don't want used.
- Limit how far windows open with safety devices from the hardware store.
- Fence the yard and lock the gate.
Important: only use locked doors and doorknob covers when a caregiver is home. In a fire or emergency, everyone needs to be able to get out.
Wandering devices for dementia patients
Technology can help you find your person faster:
- ID bracelet or necklace with their name, "memory loss," and your phone number.
- GPS trackers that clip on, go in a shoe, or are built into a watch or phone.
- Door and bed alarms that alert you when your person gets up or opens a door.
- Motion-sensor lights so a nighttime walk is less likely to end in a fall.
No device replaces supervision, but together they can give you more peace of mind. Not sure what fits your situation? A free Care Navigation session can help you sort through options.
Be ready before it happens
Make sure your person carries ID
A medical ID bracelet, a card in the wallet, and name labels in clothing help others know who they are and that they have memory loss.
Keep a recent photo
Take a clear, current photo every few months and keep it on your phone.
Tell your neighbors and local police
Let them know your person may wander, and ask them to call you right away if they see your person out alone.
Know their favorite places
Write down old homes, workplaces, churches and favorite stores. People often head toward places from their past.
Save a worn item of clothing
Keep an unwashed piece of clothing in a sealed plastic bag. Search dogs can use it to track a scent.
What to do if your person with dementia goes missing
Call 911 right away. Don't wait to see if they come back. Many people who wander are found close to home, but every minute matters, especially in Florida heat, near water or at night.
- Tell the dispatcher your person has dementia and may not answer to their name.
- Give them the recent photo and a description of what they were wearing.
- Ask about a Florida Silver Alert, which law enforcement can issue for a missing person with dementia.
- Have one person stay at home in case your person comes back.
- Check nearby places first: bushes, sheds, cars, ponds and the routes they usually walk.
After they're found, tell the doctor. Then make a plan to prevent it from happening again.
Get support from ADRC
Living with the fear that your person could walk out the door is exhausting. The Alzheimer's & Dementia Resource Center (ADRC) is here to help, for free:
- Care Navigation, one-on-one help to build a safety plan for your home.
- Information & Referral, connecting you with adult day care, in-home help and dementia care communities in Central Florida.
- Caregiver support groups, where other caregivers share what has worked at their front door.
If your person also hides keys, wallets or important papers, read our guide to why people with dementia hide things.
Need to talk now, day or night? Call the Alzheimer's Association 24/7 Helpline at 800-272-3900. If your person is missing, call 911.
Dementia wandering: common questions
Why does my elderly parent wander at night?
Dementia can scramble the body clock, so your parent may wake up confused about the time. They may also need the bathroom, be in pain, be looking for someone, or think it's time for work. Daytime activity, a calm bedtime routine, night lights and a door alarm can help. Ask the doctor about sleep problems.
What is safe wandering?
Safe wandering means giving your person a secure place to walk, such as a fenced yard or a clear path through the house, so they can move freely without getting lost or hurt. Walking can ease restlessness and is good exercise.
Is there medication for wandering in dementia?
No medicine is made specifically to stop wandering. The doctor can check for things that may make it worse, like pain, sleep problems or medicine side effects. Prevention at home and good supervision are the main tools.
How do I help someone with dementia who lives alone?
Wandering is a big risk for people who live alone. Set up regular check-ins, ask neighbors to keep an eye out, consider a GPS device and door alarms, and plan for more help as needs grow. A Care Navigation session can help you weigh options.
What is respite care for dementia?
Respite care gives the caregiver a break while someone else safely looks after your person, for a few hours or a few days. Options include adult day care, in-home help and short stays in a care community. Our Information & Referral service can help you find options in Central Florida.
When should someone with dementia move to memory care?
There's no single right time. Many families start thinking about it when wandering or other safety risks can't be managed at home, or when the caregiver's own health is suffering. Choosing memory care isn't giving up. For many families, it brings safety and rest for everyone.
Can someone with dementia wander from a car?
Yes. Some people try to open the door while the car is moving or leave the car when you stop. Use child safety locks on the back doors if your car has them, and don't leave your person alone in the car.
Download the free guide to wandering
Print this one-page tip sheet from the National Institute on Aging and keep it with your emergency information. This page is based in part on National Institute on Aging guidance.
Free help for dementia caregivers in Central Florida
The Alzheimer's & Dementia Resource Center (ADRC) in Winter Park, Florida, offers free help for caregivers in Orange and Seminole counties. Call (407) 436-7750, Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.