Table 3.

Low-tech main outcomes of scholarly literature

Strategy subtype	Main outcome(s)
Music therapy	Shows as a promising alternative to decrease the length of wandering. Music therapy was found to increase the amount of time seating more than reading therapy (2x the time seated) (4)
Doll therapy	Caregivers felt that there were clear benefits of using doll therapy in reducing wandering; however, some studies were subjective and anecdotal in nature, questioning the true effectiveness of this strategy.
Exercise programs	Were found to reduce wandering behaviors (2); however, no evidence was found in randomized trails. Demonstrated less aggressive incidents (30%) and nighttime wandering decreased.
Mirror in front of exit door	A mirror was found to reduce exit attempts by 50% (1), and 40% (1), and saw general decreases in successful exiting.
Blind/cloth barriers	Barriers on an exit door (i.e., covering the door knob or using black tape/cloth to alter the exit door) were found to be more effective (96%) than horizontal mini-blinds on the window panels on exit doors (44%). Combined methods reduced attempts by 88%. Changing floor patterns were least effective. Cloth barriers were also found to be more effective than staff-redirected entries without the visual barrier present and demonstrated high treatment acceptability.
Door mural	Door testing behaviors were reduced by 42%.
Signage	Studies were found to be underpowered and not convincing where no evidence was generally found. Those implementing signage need to take into consideration the downward gaze of the person with dementia.
Differential reinforcement	Results indicated a significant decrease in wandering with reductions ranging from 65% to 80%. Differential reinforcement techniques ranged from lack of attention for two participants, availability of sweet food for one, and sensor stimulation for another.
Distraction	Methods of distraction included providing activities for the person with dementia after meals (chores, crafts, watching videos, singing songs, etc.), and to encourage pottering. Self-stimulator products, however, are needed when staff are unavailable to direct the activities. Strategies, however, were only proposed, but its effectiveness was never evaluated.
Silver Alert	Massive variation from one state to the next on procedures. There is a limitation on available knowledge about the program (costs, effectiveness, etc.)
Safe Return Program	Proposed but effectiveness was not evaluated
Aromatherapy	Rubbing lotion with lavender, geranium, rosemary, and mandarin oils into skin of the person with dementia decreased anxiety and wandering.
Reality orientation	Strategy was suggested in the literature, but its effectiveness was not evaluated.
Lighting conditions/noise level/temperature	No effects of temperature on wandering prevalence were found. Higher noise in rooms indicated increased levels of wandering. Lighting conditions influenced wandering prevalence, where microslated glazed windows with bronze microslats coated in black were found to decrease wandering incidents, whereas brighter lighting was found to cause more wandering.
Pharmaceutical strategies	Risperidone demonstrated reductions in wandering but did not specify by how much. Alprazolam and Fasudil also indicated decreases in wandering behavior.
Locked units and physical restraints	Perceived as effective; however, it is not used by a majority of facilities (only used by 28% of facilities)