The Dangers of Cognitive Impairment Wandering

Former Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca was found safe around midnight on Sunday after going missing from his home, according to authorities. Baca suffers from Alzheimer’s disease, and was identified through a medical bracelet with contact information. He was found at a restaurant in El Monte, about 6.5 miles from his home where he went missing.

With such a public figure experiencing the struggles of Alzheimer’s, it brings to light how many others are dealing with similar issues. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, there are over 140,000 individuals living in Los Angeles County with cognitive impairments. That figure is expected to more than double by 2030. The Association also states that about 60% of those with dementia will wander at some point.

Wandering can cause those struggling to become disoriented, even in familiar places, and leave their homes, according to Barbra McLendon, a senior director for Alzheimer’s Los Angeles. There are many different reasons for wandering, and they can be almost impossible to predict.

“People can wander because they are living in the past. Even if it is 2 a.m. they can truly believe that they are late for work and need to go. Wandering can also be due to anxiety, especially during a change,” McLendon said.

Tamsin Blue was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and dementia in 2017, and her husband Craig Blue has been her primary caregiver ever since. Though the couple has a team of five other caregivers to assist, Tamsin has wandered before. On one occasion during a transition of staff, Tamsin walked away from the home and was found later by police about a block from her home. Since then, Craig and the team have implemented new tools to track Tamsin, including an Apple Airtag and Apple watch. Despite the numerous resources in place to help, it is still a struggle every day.

“We used to think we were going to be masters of the universe. All of that is gone now,”

Craig said.

The biggest risk factor for cognitive impairment is age, but there are precautions and common signs to be aware of. McLendon emphasizes how important it is to see a doctor regularly, especially those struggling with other health conditions, such as diabetes. There are also several lifestyle changes that can prevent cognitive impairments, including exercising regularly, eating a balanced diet, and managing blood pressure.

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, some common signs of wandering habits include:

• Returning from a regular walk or drive later than usual.
• Forgetting how to get to familiar places.
• Talking about fulfilling former obligations, such as going to work.
• Trying or wanting to “go home” even at home.
• Becoming restless, pacing or making repetitive movements.
• Asking the whereabouts of past friends and family.
• Appearing lost in a new or changed environment.
• Becoming nervous or anxious in crowded areas (markets or restaurants).

For those that do have a habit of wandering away from home, there are several resources available. L.A. Found, a program designed to provide support to family and caregivers, offers free tracking bracelets through Project Lifesaver. When signing up for the program, caregivers provide their loved one’s recent medical history, contact information, and a recent photo. Using the tracking technology and information provided, officials can more easily locate at-risk individuals.

When a loved one receives a diagnosis of cognitive impairment, it can change their lives in an instant. The caregiving role is simply too much for one person to carry, and it is so important to reach out for help and access available resources, according to Craig.

“As the proverbial saying goes, it takes a village,” Craig said.