What may be causing this
- Searching for a familiar place or person
- Boredom or excess energy
- Pain, hunger, or needing the bathroom
- Disorientation at a new time of day or in a new setting
What to try first
- Provide a structured daily walk
- Use visual cues on doors and camouflage exits
- Offer a meaningful task when restlessness begins
- Ensure needs — bathroom, food, comfort — are met first
What usually makes it worse
- Unstructured, understimulated afternoons
- Confronting or physically blocking
- New or unfamiliar environments without orientation
Simple things you can do today
- Prepare a current photo and written description
- Add door chimes or motion alerts
- Notify trusted neighbors
- Consider an ID bracelet or locating device
When to call the doctor
- Wandering begins or increases
- It occurs at night
- Falls or getting lost have already happened
When it may be an emergency
- Threats or acts of violence toward self or others
- Sudden confusion, weakness, slurred speech, or facial droop
- A fall with head injury, especially on a blood thinner
Related resources
Medically reviewed. Last reviewed August 2026. This page is educational information, not individualized medical advice.