Rummaging behavior is the repetitive searching through drawers, closets, or personal belongings, commonly associated with cognitive impairment like Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. While frustrating for caregivers due to misplaced items or safety concerns, this activity usually serves an important, underlying purpose for the individual. Effective management relies heavily on non-pharmacological interventions. These strategies focus on adjusting the environment and communication to transform the habit into a safe, purposeful, and manageable activity.
Analyzing the Underlying Need
Before implementing any intervention, caregivers should first determine the function of the behavior, as rummaging is rarely meaningless. The searching may stem from anxiety or restlessness, where sorting and organizing provides a sense of control and familiarity during confusion. Often, the individual is trying to fulfill a memory or a past occupational role, such as “filing” papers or “looking for shoes.” This drive for purpose is a way to alleviate boredom and find meaningful engagement, especially when structured activities are lacking. Rummaging can also be a sensory-seeking behavior, or a response to an unmet physical need, such as hunger or pain.
Environmental Modifications for Safety and Security
A primary intervention involves physically modifying the living space to remove hazards and secure important items. Dangerous objects must be placed out of sight and secured with child-proof locks or in locked cabinets. These items include:
- Medications
- Cleaning chemicals
- Sharp kitchen utensils
- Tools
For drawers or closets containing high-value items, important documents, or items that might cause anxiety if moved, discreet locking mechanisms can prevent access. Caregivers can also reduce frustration by limiting the number of available hiding spots, which simplifies the search for misplaced items later. Removing clutter and securing electrical cords also eliminates tripping hazards created during a rummaging episode. If an individual is obsessed with a specific valuable object, replacing it with an inexpensive, identical duplicate can satisfy the urge without the risk of loss.
Creating Acceptable Rummaging Opportunities
Once hazards are secured, the behavior can be redirected by providing designated, safe outlets for the person’s natural impulse to search and sort. This is often accomplished through a “rummage box” or “discovery drawer,” which is easily accessible and filled with safe, engaging items. The contents should be personalized to reflect the individual’s past interests or profession, making the activity meaningful.
For example, a person who was a mechanic might use a plastic toolbox filled with plastic tools, wing nuts, and wooden rulers for a satisfying sensory experience. A former seamstress might enjoy a box containing colorful fabric scraps, spools of yarn, buttons, and a needleless pincushion. Other engaging items promote tactile and cognitive stimulation:
- Keys on a ring
- Old photographs
- Cloth napkins to fold
- Small plastic toys with interesting textures
Communication and Redirection Techniques
When rummaging occurs outside of designated areas, the response should focus on validating the individual’s feeling rather than challenging the reality of their search. Caregivers should avoid direct confrontation or reasoning, as these tactics often increase distress and agitation. Validation involves acknowledging the underlying emotion, perhaps by saying, “It looks like you are searching for something important,” which helps to de-escalate the situation. The most effective next step is gentle redirection, shifting the person’s attention to a different activity, such as suggesting a short walk, offering a snack, or playing a familiar song. Alternatively, the caregiver can smoothly guide the person toward their designated rummage area by saying, “Let’s look in your special drawer for what you need.”