Characteristics of wandering behavior in Korean elders with dementia residing in nursing homes

Abstract

Wandering has been documented as one of the most significant and frequently identified predictors for Korean caregiver distress. However, little data has been generated to explain wandering behavior of Korean elders with dementia (KED). In this study, a sample of 160 ambulatory residents with dementia from 14 nursing homes was used to investigate individual and environmental characteristics of wandering behavior in KED by comparing wanderers (N=108) from nonwanders (N=52). Subjects were evaluated by Korean versions of the Mini-mental State Exam (K-MMSE), the Physical and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (K-PIADL), and the Revised Algase Wandering Scale - Nursing Home version (K-RAWS) along its six dimensions: persistent walking, specific patterns, spatial disorientation, eloping behavior, attention shifting, and negative outcomes. Demographic and environmental data were also obtained. Independent sample t-tests, ANOVAs, and Chi-square tests were mainly used to examine differences between wanderers and nonwanders. Significant (p < .01) between group differences were found for age, K-PADL, K-IADL, and the overall K-RAWS and all of its subscales. Wanderers were more cognitively impaired than nonwanderers (mean MMSE = .12.0, 13.4, respectively), but it does not reach statistical significance. Interestingly, the degree of overall wandering and certain features of wandering were significantly different (p<.05) by the environmental characteristics: type of bedroom (i.e., Korean traditional style, "Ondol"); color of bedroom wall (i.e., sky blue); and color of living-room wall (i.e., sky blue). Findings of this study may be useful in understanding wandering behavior of KED and thus developing more culturally specific management strategies.