Characterization of the term "wandering" in dementia research: A scoping review

Background: Dementia is an important public health concern, affecting approximately 50 million people world- wide. The term "wandering" is generally associated with negative behaviours among persons with dementia; however, physical movements of wandering can benefit persons with dementia. Despite its common usage, the term wandering does not have a standardized definition. The aim of this study was to examine definitions of the term wandering in academic literature as it pertains to persons living with dementia and how they compare to one another. Methods: This scoping review of the academic literature used Arksey and O’Malley’s (2007) framework. Papers were identified through a search of seven electronic databases. Papers were included from any year and study design provided they were in English, French, or Spanish and used terms related to “dementia”, wandering”, or “terminology.” Four members of the team participated in screening, reviewing titles, abstracts, and full-text articles. Data was extracted and recorded in an Excel spreadsheet, and a fifth researcher reviewed the extracted data to confirm validity of the extraction. Results: The search identified 106 academic papers, predominantly originating from Great Britain (50%) and the United States of America (45.28%) The term “wandering” began to appear in publications in 1990 and has been increasing since then with different definitions, some even contradictory. The definitions fell into seven domains: aimless walking, normal routine/walking for pleasure, elopement, critical wandering, disorientation in spatial navigation, combination, and other. Conclusion: This scoping review identified that the term “wandering” remains unclear. Definitions across studies are contradictory, vague, and have both negative and positive connotations. With a demographic shift towards older populations and an increasing prevalence of dementia, it is critical to understand the importance of consistent terminology to potentially avoid further confusion, misinterpretation, and stigmatization.