Source anchor
CMS MDS 3.0 RAI Manual v1.20.1 is the governed baseline currently attached to this lookup item.
Item Rationale
CMS MDS 3.0 RAI Manual v1.20.1 is the governed baseline currently attached to this lookup item.
7 matrix group(s) are already attached for review on this item.
4 governed answer row(s) are attached for this item.
Item Rationale
Use this item when the facility is completing content tied to Section E and needs to stay anchored to v1.20.1.
This page is grounded in CMS MDS 3.0 RAI Manual v1.20.1. Review the exact text and locators before treating the item as final reference content.
Wandering may be a pursuit of exercise or a pleasurable leisure activity, or it may be related to tension, anxiety, agitation, or searching.
It is important to assess for reason for wandering. Determine the frequency of its occurrence, and any factors that trigger the behavior or that decrease the episodes. Assess for underlying tension, anxiety, psychosis, drug-induced psychomotor restlessness, agitation, or unmet need (e.g., for food, fluids, toileting, exercise, pain relief, sensory or cognitive stimulation, sense of security, companionship) that may be contributing to wandering.
1. Review the medical record and interview staff to determine whether wandering occurred
during the 7-day look-back period. Wandering is the act of moving (walking or locomotion in a wheelchair) from place to place with or without a specified course or known direction. Wandering may or may not be aimless. The wandering resident may be oblivious to their physical or safety needs. The resident may have a purpose such as searching to find something, but they persist without knowing the exact direction or location of the object, person or place. The behavior may or may not be driven by confused thoughts or delusional ideas (e.g., when a resident believes they must find their parent, who staff know is deceased).
2. If wandering occurred, determine the frequency of the wandering during the 7-day look-back
period.
Code 0, behavior not exhibited: if wandering was not exhibited during the 7-day
look-back period. Skip to Change in Behavior or Other Symptoms item (E1100).
Code 1, behavior of this type occurred 1-3 days: if the resident wandered on
1-3 days during the 7-day look-back period, regardless of the number of episodes that occurred on any one of those days. Proceed to answer Wandering—Impact item (E1000).
Code 2, behavior of this type occurred 4-6 days, but less than daily: if
the resident wandered on 4-6 days during the 7-day look-back period, regardless of the number of episodes that occurred on any one of those days. Proceed to answer Wandering—Impact item (E1000).
Code 3, behavior of this type occurred daily: if the resident wandered daily
during the 7-day look-back period, regardless of the number of episodes that occurred on any one of those days. Proceed to answer Wandering—Impact item (E1000).
Pacing (repetitive walking with a driven/pressured quality) within a constrained space is not included in wandering. Wandering may occur even if resident is in a locked unit. Traveling via a planned course to another specific place (such as going to the dining room to eat a meal or to an activity) is not considered wandering.