Your loved one with Alzheimer’s disease may some times start to rummage through drawers, closets, the fridge and other places where things are stored. He also may start to hide things in the house. For the caregiver, this behavior can be really annoying and sometimes dangerous. If you start to get angry, please remember: This behavior is a part of Alzheimer’s disease, and your loved one cannot help it.

Your loved one may start to rummage and hide objects as part of his disease. 

For some patients, there may be a logical reason for the behaviors. Perhaps he is looking for a specific item, but he might not be able to describe what it is. He also may be bored or hungry. Try to understand why he is behaving this way so you can hopefully stop the behavior, or at least make sure he is safe doing it.

There are some things to do that will help when your loved one is rummaging:

  1. Lock up any dangerous or toxic products.
  2. Remove any food that is spoiled from your fridge and from cabinets. Your loved one may want a snack, but he may not have the sense anymore to not to eat something that is spoiled.
  3. Take away any valuable items that could be hidden or lost by your loved one. These include the checkbook, important documents, jewelry and keys.
  4. People with Alzheimer’s often will throw away the mail. If this happens, you may want to get a PO box. If you have a fence and gate, have your  mailbox outside the locked gate.
  5. Do not let your loved one go into rooms that are not used.
  6. Learn where your loved one likes to hide things. Most Alzheimer’s patients will hide things in one or two places.
  7. Keep trash cans covered and not in sight. Your loved one may forget that it is trash and may start to rummage through it.
  8. Check your trash cans before emptying them. Your loved one might have hidden something there.

As your loved one is wandering the house, you might find it beneficial to have a Wireless Wander Door Alarm. This will alert you if your relative is going into a room that he should not. Another way to keep him out of rooms you do not want him to enter is to use the Safe-T-Mate Stop Sign Banner. This will alert your loved one that that room is a no go.

This rummaging and hiding behavior can be frustrating, but with some planning and a few helpful Alzheimer’s supplies, the problem is usually quite manageable.