Familiar environment and wandering behavior in persons with dementia in Korea

Abstract

The environment can serve as a cue to remind persons with dementia (PWDs) to connect present and past and to link experience and memory. People feel more comfortable and increase social and functional abilities when in familiar environments. The purpose of the study was to explore the relationship between wandering behavior and familiar environment in community residing PWDs in Korea. A descriptive, cross-sectional survey method was used. Data was collected with a non-probability sampling strategy using structured format face-to-face interviews. A convenience sample of 77 PWDs and their caregivers was recruited from outpatient clinics and social welfare centers in Seoul and Wonju, South Korea. Wandering was measured by the Korean version of wandering scale with 6 subscales. Familiar environment was assessed by a mean of 3 items (Does he/she have a close relationship with his/her family members?; Has your family member been known you for a long time?; Does your family member know the current living place well?). Mean ages of PWDs and caregivers were 76.9 (60-94) and 53.9 (23-83), respectively. On the t-test, wanderers were in a less familiar environment compared to non-wanderers (t= 3.96, p<.001). Older age (r=.25, p<.05), lower cognitive function (r=-.42, p<.001), more physical dependency in ADLs (r =.56, p<.001), and less familiar environment (r=-.56, p<.001) were related to overall wandering behavior. With multiple regression, familiarity was the strongest predictor on persistent, repetitive walking, eloping as well as negative outcome scale. Nurses should apply a familiar environment to lessen the wandering behavior among community residing PWDs. On the t-test, wanderers were in a less familiar environment compared to non-wanderers (t= 3.96, p<.001). Older age (r=.25, p<.05), lower cognitive function (r=-.42, p<.001), more physical dependency in ADLs (r =.56, p<.001), and less familiar environment (r=-.56, p<.001) were related to overall wandering behavior. With multiple regression, familiarity was the strongest predictor on persistent, repetitive walking, eloping as well as negative outcome scale. Nurses should apply a familiar environment to lessen the wandering behavior among community residing PWDs.