Alzheimer’s and Other Dementias

Your Home. Your Safety. Your Choices.

Familiar routines. A little more support.

A familiar room can become harder to understand when memory, judgment, perception, or movement changes. Start with the person and the activity that matters to them. Small adjustments and patient support can make everyday routines more manageable. Needs change over time; a diagnosis alone does not tell you how much help someone needs. ^{[1] [2]}

Dementia is an umbrella term

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause. Other important types include vascular dementia, linked to blood-vessel damage; Lewy body dementia, which includes dementia with Lewy bodies and Parkinson’s disease dementia; and frontotemporal dementia, which often affects behavior or language and may begin at a younger age. Mixed dementia means more than one type of brain change occurs together. ^[1]

Vascular dementia is generally described as the second most common cause. These categories overlap, so they should not be treated as a simple ranking of separate conditions. Safety support should match the person’s actual abilities. ^[1]

For you and the people supporting you

Choose changes together whenever possible. Keep meaningful activities available and revisit support as needs change. The strategies below combine dementia safety guidance with practical home planning; they are not a proven five-step treatment for falls.

Five practical strategies

01. Make the route easier to understand.

Keep familiar pathways open and evenly lit. Remove loose rugs, cords, and clutter. Use night lights between the bedroom and bathroom. Discuss changes in depth perception, vision, or balance with the care team instead of assuming a brighter room solves every problem. ^[2]

Simple words or familiar pictures can help identify rooms. Try one change at a time and notice whether it helps this person. A cue that works for one person may confuse another. ^[3]

02. Build movement around everyday needs.

Offer regular, meaningful activity and opportunities for supported walking. Check for hunger, thirst, discomfort, or a need to use the toilet when someone becomes restless. ^[3]

Keep the bathroom easy to find and allow time rather than waiting for an urgent trip. Use a regular toileting routine suited to the person. Ask OT or PT to assess difficult transfers and any walking aid; equipment needs to be usable as well as available. ^[4]

03. Prepare for evenings and nights.

Keep waking, meals, and bedtime reasonably consistent. Encourage daytime sunlight and appropriate activity. Reduce evening noise and distractions, and use lighting that limits confusing shadows. Plan demanding tasks for times when the person is more alert. ^[5]

If someone is awake and distressed, approach calmly, check what they need, and offer reassurance. Safe, supervised movement may help; do not use physical restraint. Discuss persistent sleep problems with the clinician before trying sleep medicines. ^[5]

04. Have a plan for wandering or getting lost.

Notice patterns: wanting to leave may relate to a familiar past routine or feeling disoriented. Offer purposeful activity and safe places to walk. Consider a door-opening alert and supervision matched to need. Never lock a person inside alone or block emergency escape. ^[3]

Keep a current photo and identification details ready. Agree on who will help if the person goes missing. Tracking devices can support a plan but cannot replace supervision. Begin searching immediately; call 911 promptly if there is danger, and do not delay beyond the Alzheimer’s Association’s 15-minute threshold if the person has not been found. Tell responders the person has dementia. ^[3]

05. Offer help in a way the person can follow.

Speak directly to the person in a quiet space. Offer one short instruction or question at a time, demonstrate when helpful, and allow time for a response. Avoid arguing, correcting, or overwhelming them with several requests. ^[6]

If help is declined, look for the reason: fear, discomfort, confusion, or simply wanting a choice. When there is no immediate danger, pause and try a different approach. Ask the care team for help when essential care cannot be completed safely. ^[6]

Optional words to try: “Would you like me beside you?” or “Let’s take one step at a time.” These are example scripts, not quotations from the sources.

What does this mean for you?

Start with one difficult routine. Ask what the person wants to keep doing and what support would feel useful. If you are a care partner, your observations can help the team tailor the plan without taking over every decision.

Three actions for today

1. Clear and light one frequently used route.
2. Agree on a bathroom and nighttime support plan.
3. Write down one pattern or near-fall to discuss with the care team.

Do not assume a sudden change is dementia.

New confusion, unusual sleepiness, or a rapid change in behavior or awareness can signal delirium or another illness. Seek immediate medical assessment for a sudden unexplained change; call 911 for severe symptoms, difficulty waking, stroke signs, or immediate danger. ^[7]

Report falls, near-falls, new dizziness, and worsening walking to the care team. Ask about medicines, pain, vision, hearing, and mobility. OT and PT can help adapt activities and movement to the person’s needs. General safety planning should be reviewed as abilities change.

References and further reading

Primarily Alzheimer’s Association guidance, cross-checked with federal health resources. Some advice addresses broader safety, communication, or getting lost rather than measured fall reduction. General education, not individualized care. Sources checked November 2, 2026.