徘徊者(はいかいしゃ)

はいかいしゃ
noun
wanderer; person who wanders around
personsociety
1. wanderer; person who roams aimlessly
A person who walks around without clear purpose or destination. In modern Japanese, frequently used in the context of elderly people with dementia who wander away from home, a growing social concern in Japan's aging society.
深夜(しんや)の徘徊者(はいかいしゃ)に注意(ちゅうい)してください。
Please be careful of people wandering around late at night.
認知症(にんちしょう)の徘徊者(はいかいしゃ)を保護(ほご)する取(と)り組(く)みが広(ひろ)がっている。
Efforts to protect dementia patients who wander are spreading.
地域(ちいき)では、高齢(こうれい)の徘徊者(はいかいしゃ)を見(み)かけたら声(こえ)をかけて交番(こうばん)に連絡(れんらく)するよう呼(よ)びかけている。
The community is encouraging people to speak to elderly wanderers they see and contact the local police box.

Composed of 徘徊(はいかい) (wandering/roaming) and 者(しゃ) (person). In contemporary Japan, this word is strongly associated with elderly people with dementia (認知症(にんちしょう)) who leave home and cannot find their way back. This is a significant social issue in Japan's rapidly aging society, and communities have organized watch networks to help locate 徘徊者(はいかいしゃ).

Note on sensitivity

Some advocates prefer avoiding 徘徊(はいかい) when referring to people with dementia, as the word can carry negative connotations of aimless, suspicious wandering. Alternatives include 行方不明者(ゆくえふめいしゃ) (missing person) or simply describing the situation.

Common collocations

Similar words

Related Words

Compare: 不審者(ふしんしゃ) (suspicious person)
Compare: 行方不明者(ゆくえふめいしゃ) (missing person)
general
Added 2026.5.4 23:18 · Revised 2026.9.4 21:29
26500/26725_haikaisha