The effects of visual barriers on exiting behavior in a dementia care unit

Abstract

Exiting due to wandering was a problem for caregivers in this dementia care unit. Previous attempts to control exiting by wanderers proved ineffective. We manipulated the view and light through a window using visual barriers: window blind, cloth barrier, and a combination of the two. The closed blind reduced exiting by 44%. The cloth barrier was the most effective solution, reducing exiting by 96%. The combination of the blind and cloth barrier reduced exiting 88%. These findings support those of Namazi, Rosner, and Calkins (1989).