Psychology Today | 04.09.2026 05:52
Imagine a man who gets up repeatedly and walks toward the door of his memory care community. We could call him a wanderer, which is a word that has been used for decades in dementia care. Or we could ask where he is trying to go. Imagine a woman who becomes distressed every afternoon and repeatedly calls out for her husband. We could call her a yeller, or we could wonder what happens for her when the light begins to change, the room gets busier, or she realizes she cannot find the person who has made her feel safe for 50 years. Those may sound like small differences in language, but I don't think they are. The words we choose do more than describe what we see. They can influence what we look for next.
