Meandering; aimless or repetitive locomotion that exposes the individual to harm; frequently incongruent with boundaries, limits, or obstacles
Defining Characteristics:
- Frequent or continuous movement from place to place, often revisiting the same destinations;
- persistent locomotion in search of "missing" or unattainable people or places;
- haphazard locomotion;
- locomotion in unauthorized or private spaces;
- locomotion resulting in unintended leaving of a premise;
- long periods of locomotion without an apparent destination;
- fretful locomotion or pacing;
- inability to locate significant landmarks in a familiar setting;
- locomotion that cannot be easily dissuaded or redirected;
- following behind or shadowing a caregiver's locomotion;
- trespassing;
- hyperactivity;
- scanning, seeking, or searching behaviors;
- periods of locomotion interspersed with periods of nonlocomotion (e.g., sitting, standing, sleeping);
- getting lost
Related Factors:
- Cognitive impairment, specifically memory and recall deficits, disorientation, poor visuoconstructive (or visuospatial) ability, and language (primarily expressive) defects;
- cortical atrophy;
- premorbid behavior (e.g., outgoing, sociable personality);
- premorbid dementia;
- separation from familiar people and places;
- sedation;
- emotional state, especially frustration, anxiety, boredom, or depression (agitation);
- overstimulating/understimulating social or physical environment;
- physiological state or need (e.g., hunger/thirst, pain, urination, constipation);
- time of day
NOC Outcomes (Nursing Outcomes Classification)
Suggested NOC Labels
- Safety Status: Falls Occurrence
- Safety Behavior: Fall Prevention
- Caregiver Home Care Readiness
- Decreased incidence of falls (preferably free of falls)
- Decreased incidence of elopements
- Appropriate body weight maintained
- Caregiver able to explain interventions can use to provide a safe environment for care receiver who displays wandering behavior
Suggested NIC Labels
- Dementia Management
