Glossary
Wandering
Also called: Elopement, Exit-seeking
Wandering, or elopement when the person leaves the building, is the tendency of some people with dementia to walk off without awareness of danger, and it is the main safety reason families choose a secured memory care setting.
Not everyone with dementia wanders. Communities assess for it at admission, and an assisted living community without a secured perimeter may not be able to keep a resident who begins to.
Related terms
Memory care
Memory care is assisted living designed for people living with Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia, in a secured setting with dementia-trained staff and a structured daily routine.
Secured perimeter
A secured perimeter is a memory care design in which exits are locked or alarmed so residents with dementia can move freely inside without wandering out.
Sundowning
Sundowning is increased confusion, agitation or restlessness in the late afternoon and evening in people with dementia.
Definitions reviewed September 5, 2026. Rules vary by state and change over time; confirm specifics with the community and the licensing agency.