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“There is always a reason why someone is doing something”: The importance of life history and personhood when supporting people with dementia to “wander” in care homes
Yelena Mikhaylova-O’Connell, Alys Wyn Griffiths, Iria da Cunha, Reena Devi, Karen Spilsbury, Mary Gemma Cherry. Dementia, 2025-01-27
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Up to 60% of people living with dementia who reside in care homes will ‘wander’ at some point. A person-centred approach should be taken to support each person’s individual needs through tailored interventions when wandering. This study aimed to identify care home staff perspectives on what supports safe wandering for people living with dementia in care home environments. As part of a larger study, and using a person-centred framework, semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with staff ( N = 19) recruited from care homes in the North of England who provide care for older people. Transcripts were analysed using framework analysis. Four themes were identified, and two of these themes are presented here. Staff highlighted the importance of ensuring that personhood is at the centre of care delivery when supporting residents to wander. Clear leadership from management and meaningful involvement of families allowed staff to provide better support for residents. Staff also reflected on the importance of identification of unique impacts of dementia on each individual when providing person-centred care. The delicate balance between safety and well-being was consistently considered and reviewed. We identified a range of individual factors that contribute towards safe and supported wandering for people living with dementia. Positive risk taking, supported by policies and procedures, such as resident safety and meaningful activity, may allow staff to manage the benefits and risks associated with wandering.
Key findings
- Positive risk taking, supported by policies and procedures, such as resident safety and meaningful activity, may allow staff to manage the benefits and risks associated with wandering.
Why it matters
This qualitative interview study of 19 care home staff suggests that person-centred care, positive risk taking and clear leadership may help support safe wandering in residents with dementia. It does not test any treatment, cure or prevention of Alzheimer's disease.
Study details
- Participants19
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 42/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Dementia) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | Dementia: journal h-index 92 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 1 / 4 | 19 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 2 / 7 | Cited 5 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 1 / 5 | 1.7 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 6.1× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 5 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Mary Gemma Cherry: h-index 27 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | University of Sheffield: institution h-index 1,017 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 39869120) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 42 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Mikhaylova-O’Connell, Y., Griffiths, A. W., da Cunha, I., Devi, R., Spilsbury, K., & Cherry, M. G. (2025). “There is always a reason why someone is doing something”: The importance of life history and personhood when supporting people with dementia to “wander” in care homes. Dementia. https://doi.org/10.1177/14713012251316679
Vancouver
Mikhaylova-O’Connell Y, Griffiths AW, da Cunha I, Devi R, Spilsbury K, Cherry MG. “There is always a reason why someone is doing something”: The importance of life history and personhood when supporting people with dementia to “wander” in care homes. Dementia. 2025. doi:10.1177/14713012251316679. PMID: 39869120.
BibTeX
@article{mikhaylovaoconnell2025-39869120,
author = {Mikhaylova-O’Connell, Yelena and Griffiths, Alys Wyn and da Cunha, Iria and Devi, Reena and Spilsbury, Karen and Cherry, Mary Gemma},
title = {{“There is always a reason why someone is doing something”: The importance of life history and personhood when supporting people with dementia to “wander” in care homes}},
journal = {Dementia},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1177/14713012251316679},
pmid = {39869120},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1177/14713012251316679}
}