Centre for Policy on Ageing



Wandering in dementia — a longitudinal study
Author(s)	Tony Hope, Janet Keene, Rupert H McShane
Journal title	International Psychogeriatrics, vol 13, no 2, June 2001
Pages	pp 137-148
Keywords	Wandering ; Dementia ; Living in the community ; Informal care ; Longitudinal surveys ; Oxfordshire.
Annotation	Over a 10-year period, 86 people with dementia and living at home with a carer in Oxfordshire were assessed every 4 months; their carers were interviewed using the Present Behavioural Examination to assess wandering behaviour in detail. Nine types of "wandering" behaviour were distinguished. Changes in wandering behaviour were not generally related to gender, age, or time since onset of dementia. Onset of different types of wandering behaviour showed some relationship with cognitive state. Various forms of increased walking first appeared during moderate dementia, each type typically persisting for 1 to 2 years. Late dementia was characterised by decreased walking and immobility. Wandering behaviour in dementia can cause great problems for carers. There are different causes for such changes, some of which are related to cognitive ability; for example, increased confusion results in ineffectual "pottering" and getting lost. Increased walking at night corresponds with disruption of diurnal rhythm. (RH).
Accession Number	CPA-010911202 A
Classmark	EPC: EA: K4: P6: 3J: 8O
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...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing.