The family member who cares for a parent or loved one diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease undertakes an enormous responsibility. The Alzheimer's patient demands may seem manageable in the beginning; in fact, friends and some family members may not notice the changes in the elder.
However, as the disease progresses and the elderly person's memory deteriorates, the caregiver's work becomes physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausting. To make matters more difficult, the elderly person may begin to wander away from home.
Wandering is a Common Problem Among Seniors With Alzheimer's
Wandering is one of the defining characteristics of Alzheimer's disease. A caregiver may have to go to great lengths to prevent the elderly person from getting out of the house. In public, the elderly family member has to be watched constantly or else he or she may stray away.