CLEVELAND — Carol Jeran has fidget toys in every room of her home.

What You Need To Know

  • Patients with dementia can sometimes wander with a purpose 

  • Frontal lobe dementia affects speech and leaves patients unable to communicate needs

  • Asking various questions can help caretakers ascertain a patient's needs

“Sometimes I just play with them for my own sanity,” Jeran said as she played with a light-up toy.

The toys are for her husband Jim, who has frontal lobe dementia, a form of dementia that affects the speech. It’s the same kind that actor Bruce Willis was diagnosed with.

“They affect executive function. When we get dressed, we know to do things in an order. He cannot do that,” Jeran said of her husband.

“(He) pretty much can’t really carry on any kind of conversation. It’s a dreadful disease,” Jeran said.

Jim had previously worked in electronics and has begun to fidget with gadgets around his home. Aside from his need to fidget, Jim has also begun to wander.

“One day I was working out upstairs. I put him down here after he ate his breakfast with a cup of coffee. He was watching TV. I came down, and he was gone. I was panicked,” she said.

Tina Witt is a director at King David Adult Day Center, previously Menorah Park. Jim spends a couple of days a week at the center.

The center is designed around a large circle hallway.

“It’s designed purposefully to promote walking because so many people with dementia do wander, as it’s called, or walkabout,” Witt said. “This provides space for them to do that. It’s a big circle,” Witt said.

“Not being able to express yourself has got to cause a lot of that,” Jeran said.

“A lot of time people think of wandering, and they just think walking about without purpose. Exit-seeking is a whole other level, not just getting lost or wandering into the road,” according to Witt.

Carol decided to make some changes, including putting locks at the tops of door and placing an air tag inside of Jim’s shoes.

“After that, with door hooks, I haven’t lost him again. I’m keeping him close,” Jeran said.

Witt recommends only using the locking devices when someone else is home in case of fires or emergencies.

“Often, we assume it’s their dementia and they’re just walking about with no purpose. More often than not, it’s because they have a need that’s not being met. Are they thirsty, hungry, cold, hot? It might be that there’s pain. They may not be able to verbalize and say, ‘I’m thirsty’ but ‘I’m walking around’ and that’s how it’s presenting. So, asking someone, ‘Can I get you something? Are you thirsty?’ You might go through a serious of questions until you find the right thing,” Witt said.

Jeran said the little changes have worked.

“He might just be thirsty, but he can’t tell me. When he is wandering, I’ll give him snacks. I sit next to him and play with him. If you get his needs met, he’s good. It’s just hard to know sometimes,” Jeran said.

“I’m just really honored to be able to take care of him now because he’s taken care of me my whole life. We’re on a different journey, but it’s a good journey,” she said.