Smarter Ways to Reduce Wandering and Elopement Risk in Memory Care

Wandering and elopement pose significant, ongoing safety concerns in memory care settings. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, six in 10 people living with dementia will wander at least once, and many do so repeatedly. Because these incidents can quickly become dangerous or even life-threatening, reducing wandering and elopement risk must be a top priority for every memory care community.

I Advance Senior Care spoke with experts from Goodwin Living about how they have successfully reduced wandering and elopement risks, and how other memory care communities can put those same best practices into effect.

Read on to learn how thoughtful design, staff training, personalized care, and technology can work together to reduce wandering and improve resident safety.

Designing Memory Care Communities to Improve Safety

Shanna Gauvin, assisted living coordinator at Goodwin Living

Creating a safer environment starts with intentional facility design. At Goodwin Living, an open-concept layout has helped reduce wandering and elopement risk by making spaces easier to navigate while incorporating “purposeful life” stations that minimize confusion and restlessness.

Personalization is another important element of a supportive environment. Incorporating personal photographs, memory books, and familiar items helps create a sense of home while providing comfort, recognition, and emotional connection.

“Recently, our memory care residents personalized wreaths to adorn their own doors, and one of our Christmas trees includes ornaments with photos of the residents who celebrate the holiday,” says Shanna Gauvin, assisted living coordinator at Goodwin Living. “Such items also foster a sense of ownership and belonging that one would have in any type of home.”

Incorporating preventive safety measures also plays a critical role in preventing unsafe exits. “Secured doors with delayed egress and discreet alarm systems help alert team members if a resident attempts to exit,” says Taneisha Hampton, administrator of Goodwin House Bailey’s Crossroads Assisted Living. “Keypads and team-only access points should be placed strategically to reduce visual prompts that might trigger exit-seeking. Clear signage, personalized door identifiers, and well-lit pathways also make it easier for residents to navigate without becoming disoriented.”

Daily Care Strategies That Help Reduce Wandering

Taneisha Hampton, administrator of Goodwin House Bailey’s Crossroads Assisted Living

Helping residents maintain a sense of purpose can naturally reduce wandering behaviors. Hampton says many residents benefit from participating in meaningful daily activities, such as setting the table or assisting with simple routines. “Keeping residents meaningfully engaged throughout the day naturally decreases idle wandering and reduces the need for elopement as a means to address boredom or displeasure with the memory care environment,” she says.

Staff education is equally important. Ongoing training helps caregivers recognize early signs of restlessness or exit-seeking while ensuring they know how to respond appropriately before a situation escalates.

Preparedness also requires regular practice. Hampton recommends documenting a clear missing resident procedure and reviewing it with all team members at least every six months. She suggests communities:

1. Facilitate unannounced elopement and missing resident drills during each shift, using a team member or resident as part of the scenario.
2. Thoroughly review the policy, since knowing how to respond in an emergency is critical.
3. Conduct a debrief after each drill. Discuss what went well and identify areas for improvement. Ensure that all participating team members sign off and confirm that they have completed the drill and reviewed the policy.

Training should extend beyond caregivers. Team members in positions such as reception and security should also become familiar with residents so they are prepared to recognize potential concerns and respond quickly if an incident occurs.

Using Technology to Support Safer Memory Care

Technology can provide another layer of support for memory care communities seeking to reduce wandering and elopement. Smart watches, pendants, cameras, and other monitoring tools can help staff better understand resident movement and behavior patterns.

Some technologies also help residents maintain daily routines. “Some of the residents in our community have found success with devices that cue them to certain times of day and their assorted activities, such as going to the bathroom before mealtimes or drinking water at regular intervals,” Gauvin explains. She notes that meeting residents’ basic needs often addresses the underlying causes of wandering, particularly for individuals who cannot easily communicate those needs.

Technology, however, should always complement rather than replace personal care. “While technology can supplement a care plan on an individualized basis, it can never truly replace human eyes and personalized care,” adds Gauvin. “Technology must always respect resident rights and should not cause intrusion of privacy or loss of autonomy.”

Communities should also recognize the limitations of technology. Devices can malfunction, data may be compromised, and voice-activated systems can introduce privacy concerns. “We recommend implementing an electronic monitoring policy that delineates these risks and the relation to resident rights,” says Gauvin.

Understanding the “Why” Behind Wandering

Long-term success depends on understanding the individual behind the behavior. Hampton encourages communities to develop truly person-centered service plans that focus on identifying the underlying reasons residents wander rather than simply reacting to the behavior itself.

“Wandering and exit-seeking are most often expressions of unmet needs, and it helps to reframe ‘behaviors’ as a form of communication,” she explains. “Take the time to dig deeper and understand the resident’s ‘why.’ What are they trying to express? Are they anxious, bored, overstimulated, looking for someone, or following a lifelong routine? Once the underlying need is identified, you can put targeted interventions in place that address the root cause rather than just the behavior.”

Learning about each resident’s personal history can provide valuable context. At Goodwin Living, new residents complete an individualized interview during their first week, often with assistance from family members or representatives who can share additional observations. These conversations help staff understand routines, preferences, and life experiences that may influence behavior.

“For instance, a resident who anxiously wanders in the morning may have walked her children to school every day for years. Today, she may retain those worries that her children will be late or get lost,” Gauvin explains. “In this scenario, the care team could step into her reality, assure her that her children made it to school safely, and redirect her to begin her own day now that the children are taken care of.”

That deeper understanding of residents’ preferences and histories strengthens both care planning and resident safety. “Ultimately, when team members know and understand each resident as a unique individual and support them through tailored routines, purposeful engagement, and empathetic interpretation of their needs, wandering decreases naturally and safely,” says Hampton.

Paige Cerulli

Paige Cerulli is a contributing writer to i Advance Senior Care.