---
title: "What Is Wandering? Home Care Glossary | HomeCare.com"
description: "Wandering is when a person with dementia leaves a safe place or walks around without a clear purpose and may become lost. It can happen at any stage. It..."
url: https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/wandering/
publisher: HomeCare.com
phone: 800-974-3458
start: https://care.homecare.com/?source=homecare.com
---

Safety and home

# Wandering

Wandering is when a person with dementia leaves a safe place or walks around without a clear purpose and may become lost. It can happen at any stage. It can be dangerous, especially at night, in bad weather or near roads and water.

## Why it matters for your family

Many people with dementia wander. The Alzheimer's Association says tips can reduce the risk but cannot guarantee a person will not wander. Useful steps include meaningful daily activity, meeting basic needs such as toileting and food, door alarms or monitors, and a plan for what to do if the person goes missing. The Alzheimer's Association advises calling 911 if the person is not found within 15 minutes and telling the police that the person has dementia. A common mistake is locking a person in alone, which is unsafe. Supervision matters. Advanced companion care from HomeCare.com includes fall-risk and wandering safety support.

Source: [alz.org](https://www.alz.org/help-support/caregiving/safety/wandering)

[Read more: How to Prevent Dementia Patients from Wandering: HomeCare.com Safety Tips for Families](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/chronic-conditions/prevent-dementia-wandering/)

## Related terms

-   [**Dementia**Dementia is a group of symptoms, not one disease.](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/dementia/)
-   [**Alzheimer's disease**Alzheimer's disease is a progressive brain disorder that slowly harms memory, thinking, and eventually the ability to do simple tasks.](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/alzheimers-disease/)
-   [**Sundowning**Sundowning is increased confusion, anxiety, or agitation that some people with Alzheimer's disease or other dementia feel from late afternoon through night.](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/sundowning/)
-   [**Memory care**Memory care is specialized residential care for people with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias.](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/memory-care/)
-   [**Medical alert system**A medical alert system is a device, often a wearable button, that lets a person call for help in an emergency.](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/medical-alert-system/)
-   [**Dementia care**Dementia care is support for people with memory loss and other thinking problems that disrupt daily life.](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/dementia-care/)

[All glossary terms](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/)

## Talk to a care advisor today.

Free consultation. No minimums, no contracts.

[800-974-3458](tel:+18009743458)

[Call a care advisor](tel:+18009743458)[Find a caregiver online](https://care.homecare.com/?source=homecare.com)

![A caregiver helping an older adult recover at home](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/_astro/post-surgery.CNhBB5ZY_rHxxQ.webp)