Walking with purpose

Dementia advice

What some people call 'wandering', at Care UK we call walking with purpose.

It is a common behaviour for people living with dementia and can be distressing for their loved ones.

In fact, we found that despite 54% of people saying they associate ‘wandering’ as a common symptom of dementia, only 35% of people would feel comfortable talking about it, according to our recent survey. In the following video, we hear from real families sharing their experiences with loved ones who walk with purpose.

The Big Dementia Conversation: Walking with purpose

Why people living with dementia walk with purpose

“Nobody gets up and walks without a reason,” says Suzanne Mumford, Dementia Consultant for Care UK.

While it may seem to family and friends that their loved one is walking without a purpose, it’s important to remember that there is always a reason or belief behind a person’s walking, even if it doesn’t seem obvious, they can’t tell you or they’ve forgotten why they got up.

There are several reasons why people living with dementia walk, including:

Forgetting where they put an item or where they were going
Having difficulty sleeping
Easing pain or moving from an uncomfortable environment
Feeling restless and relieving boredom or excess energy

How to support someone who walks with purpose

While walking can be good exercise for someone living with dementia and even help to relieve stress or anxiety, it can become a problem if they leave home without their keys or can’t find their way home.

However, being told to sit down can lead to distress. Consider how you might feel if you got up with a purpose in mind but were constantly being told to sit back down.

Four ways to support someone who walks with purpose are:

Walk with them
Instead of telling them to sit down, if it’s safe to do so, accompany your loved one on a walk around the home or outside. A change of scenery can combat boredom, and a walk can be a much-needed opportunity for physical activity.
Ensure their basic needs are met
Try asking if they need the toilet or are hungry. They may have forgotten they got up to go to the toilet or get something to eat.
Offer opportunities for meaningful activities
Knowing an individual’s interests and life history can help you to understand why they are walking and support them to find a more engaging activity. At Care UK, our teams get to know each resident well so their care can be tailored to them – this is called person-centred care. If we know a person likes to bake, we might suggest walking into the kitchen where they can enjoy a more meaningful activity.
Provide reassurance
If a change of scenery or an activity doesn’t occupy a person living with dementia who walks with purpose, music or a soft blanket might provide them with reassurance that they can relax.

The Big Dementia Conversation

We want to get the nation talking about dementia and some of the most difficult topics associated with the condition. Explore more articles in our online advice hub to take a closer look at the less-talked-about symptoms of dementia and how to navigate them. You can also discover more advice and support on our dementia help & advice page.

The Big Dementia Conversation