Dementia is a condition which is characterized by loss of memory, remembering, and reasoning skills. Alzheimer's disease is probably the best-known cause of dementia.

Dementia is a progressive disorder. There is no cure for it or treatment to slow down its progression. The symptoms become worse as the condition continues to decline. This fact is heartbreaking particularly if you have a loved one who suffers from this condition.

One of the common behaviors, when a person suffers from dementia, is wandering. Any person who suffers memory loss and is still able to walk on his or her own is at risk of wandering. Six out of ten people with dementia will wander, according to Alzheimer's Association. Sufferers may not remember their names or addresses. Even in familiar places, they may feel confused and become disoriented.

Wandering among dementia patients is dangerous. Patients who wander are at high risk of accidents. However, there are strategies, services, and tools that can help prevent it.

Even if a dementia patient is not seen with this behavior just yet, it is still better to be sure. You will never know when they will get up from their beds and start to wander out of the house. Even though wandering is commonly thought to happen during the later stage of dementia, it can occur in any stage – even the earliest stage. That is why it is imperative to use or install devices that can help prevent a dementia patient from accidentally wandering.

You may want to check out the following wandering prevention devices and accessories:

1) Anti-Wandering Single Door Exit Alarm System
This door system is equipped with an alarm which alerts caregivers when a wandering dementia patient approaches the doorway. This unit also comes with a wristband which the patient wears and sets off an audible and visual alarm to alert the caregiver when the patient is nearing the exit.

It also includes door bar alarm, magnetic contact switch, AC power adapter, and a reset button. The system can be integrated with the Large Facility Central Monitor.

2) Wireless Anti-Wandering Door Exit Alarm Reset Button
This battery-operated wireless door exit alarm reset button (manufactured by Smart Caregiver) is designed to allow caregivers to silence the alarm quickly and attend to patient's needs. It can be installed as far as 40 feet from the system it is being used to reset.

3) Wired Anti-Wandering Door Exit Alarm System Reset Keypad
This device plugs directly into an Anti-Wandering Door Bar, providing a tamper-proof way to quickly reset an alert right at the door being monitored. Installation is quick and easy and can be mounted on the wall or at the door. After you enter a numeric code, it will reset the alarm which allows you to go inside and outside the door without alarming.

4) Replacement Single Door Monitor Bar
This replacement single door bar will complete your anti-wandering exit alarm system. It is used together with a wristband, which the resident wears. When the wristband is paired with the door bar, it sets off an audible and visual alarm to notify the caregiver when the patient is nearing towards the doorway.

5) Caregiver Key
The Caregiver Key comes with a chain. It is used together with certain Smart Caregiver alarm models which feature the TamperProof Caregiver Key function. It also used with certain Smart Caregiver Anti-Wandering Door Exit Alarm Systems.

6) Patient Wristband Transmitter for Anti-Wandering Door Bar Exit Alarms
This special wristband is used together with the Anti-Wandering Single Door Bar Exit Alarm Systems and Anti-Wandering Double Door Exit Alarm Systems. Worn by the patient, it sends an alarm to the caregiver when the former goes toward the monitored door.