When people with dementia walk - what if the person gets lost

Precautions

Always have a recent photograph of the person with dementia to hand, and if possible, a recent video. Make a list of useful information to pass on to the police: better to do it in advance even if you never need it, than try to think of things when you are panicking because the person has gone missing. Information such as date of birth, identifying marks, jewellery, hair colour, medical condition, allergies, blood type, medication, complexion, eye colour, and dental work may all be helpful to the police. Don't forget to include any other names the person used in the past – for example, a woman's maiden name. 

You could also have notes of places where the police might find the person, such as old neighbourhoods, former workplaces, or favourite places.

Keep an item of recently-worn clothing in a plastic bag – you could simply keep a blouse or a pair of trousers or socks out of the wash each time, and put it into the next wash, replacing it with a more recently-worn item. This is, of course, forthe kind of emergency that you hope will never happen, but bear in mind that you do not make an emergency more likely to happen by preparing for it in case it does.

What to do?

Don't panic. Check the person's usual route for walking, and ask your neighbours and local shopkeepers if they have seen him or her. Remember that someone who does not know where he or she is going will often follow the direction of the dominant hand – a right-handed person will often turn right, a left-handed person will often turn left. Think about where else the person might have decided to go to: where did he or she live in the last clearly-remembered period of his or her life? Is the person trying to return to the home he or she remembers? Has the person been thinking about going to work, or to a social club, or some other familiar place, and started out in that direction?

He went into long-term care but he got out of the home. He went missing. The care home rang the police, but he had walked over a mile in a very little while. Someone spoke to him, and asked him his name and where he lived. He gave the address he had when he was a young boy.
- Carer

If you can, ask a friend or a relative to help you search. Keep a list of neighbours and their phone numbers. Don't forget that someone must be available at all times at the contact number that the missing person is carrying. 

If you cannot find the person yourself or with help, notify the local police. Give them the person's photograph or video and the other information you have ready. 

Afterwards

When the person with dementia returns, do not scold him or her for getting lost or show that you are upset and worried: he or she may already be anxious with the experience of getting lost. The person needs to be reassured and to return to a familiar routine. 

Once the person is safe and calm, call a friend or a relative or the Dementia Helpline (0808 808 3000)  – talk to someone to whom you can vent your feelings of anxiety or anger. 

Don't forget to contact all the people you asked to help when the person with dementia was missing, and let them know the outcome.