What were some possible explanations for Mrs. Snyder wandering off? Use the information you have from the case to develop some possibilities.

Question

Emelia coordinated a Meals on Wheels Program for the elderly, and supervised 10 volunteers who delivered the meals. One day, when Emelia filled in for a volunteer and delivered a meal to the Snyders, she found Mr. Snyder very agitated and worried because Mrs. Snyder was missing. Apparently she had wandered off before. Because it was cold outside and they lived two blocks from a busy street, Emelia was alarmed and struggled with how to respond to this unexpected situation. As she tried to prioritize her responsibilities, she began to wonder if her volunteers were communicating with her and if they were well-trained for their responsibilities.

Answer 1

Mr. Snyder mentioned that she had ìwandered offî before and that she left the front door open. He mentioned looking in ìnormal hiding spots in our yard and the neighborsí yard.î These facts suggest that Mrs. Snyder may have become disoriented and confused which could be early signs of dementia.

Here were some other possible explanations, although there was no evidence in the case to support them:
• She may have gone to run an errand
• She may have gone to visit a neighbor
• She may have become angry with Mr. Snyder and left the house in a huff.
It was also possible that Mr. Snyder himself had become forgetful and did not remember what she told him about where she was going. He may have been reporting incorrectly that she left the front door open or that she had wandered off previously.