What to do When an Alzheimer's Patient Goes Missing

What do you do when an Alzheimer's patient goes missing? As Alzheimer’s progresses, many sufferers begin to wander. In fact, 60 percent of people with Alzheimer’s will wander, that means there are 3,000,000 people in the U.S. who may wander and become lost over the course of their illness. Although this can be frustrating and unnerving, it is indicative of a much bigger problem. Wandering becomes incredibly dangerous when an aging loved one becomes fixated on a particular place—usually one that carries great meaning to them. Often, this will lead to the person attempting to travel greater distances. People with Alzheimer’s are able to use credit cards and board buses, and do not necessarily set off red flags for the general public because there are no visual signs of the condition. They also often do not respond to loved ones calling their name or shouting to them. In the most serious of cases, this leads to aging loved ones going missing.

The first 24 hours are crucial for finding a missing person alive. For people with Alzheimer’s, time is even more important. After the first 12 hours, a missing person with Alzheimer’s has a 50 percent chance of injury or death from accidents such as drowning and falling, or medical ailments such as hypothermia and dehydration.

Those who wander are typically travel on foot and are found within a mile and a half from their home. Those who gain access to trains and buses can get much farther and put themselves in even greater danger. Typically, a minimum of three police vehicles are sent to search for these missing persons, who are often repeat offenders. In fact, one person in Norfolk, Va. has been the center of a local police search 12 times.

Fortunately, there are new tools available to help you recover your missing loved one. The first is a program called Silver Alert. Maryland passed this law in October of 2009, but other states and private agencies offer similar initiatives, like The National Silver Alert Program. Police are required to contact the Silver Alert coordinator when a person suffering cognitive impairment, like Alzheimer’s or dementia, is reported missing. A description of the missing person along with where she was last seen is then reported to local media and announced to the public to assist with the search.

To help make Silver Alert programs more effective, you can also register your loved one free with online initiatives such as MissingPatient.com. The site logs information about your loved one including photographs, and provides police and hospitals with this information when a Silver Alert is issued. It also stores medical and health information including existing conditions, medications and doctors so that first responders can provide your loved one with any care she may need as soon as they are located.

There are also many new tracking devices. They come in many forms including bracelets, cell phone applications, vehicle trackers and microchips that can be attached to almost anything your loved one carries or wears. An innovative tracking device combines the use of a bracelet with a radio frequency. Your loved one simply wears the bracelet. If they go missing, searchers can tune into the frequency and pinpoint their location. This is called Project Lifesaver and 11 years after its inception, it is now used in 45 states.

If you notice your loved one is missing, there are a few things you can do in order to provide helpful information to the police. First, try to assess how long she has been missing and check for car keys and credit cards; if these items are missing, it could be a clue as to where she has gone.

Make sure you provide searchers with important information such as:

• Vehicle description
• Any health conditions
• Last known location
• Doctor’s names and numbers
• Places your loved one frequently visits
• Addresses of friends and family your loved one may try to visit.

It is important that you never search alone — you could become lost or injured yourself. Make sure someone stays at the home in case she returns and call friends, relatives and neighbors to let them know she is missing. They may have seen something you are not aware of. Information is a key factor in returning your loved one safely to her home. For this reason, it is critical that you provide search teams with any and all information about your loved one, even if you don’t think it is relevant.

For information about local programs and services that can help you in the case of a wandering emergency, visit your local Area Agency on Aging.

Right at Home provides a variety of care services for seniors and disabled adults who need assistance to maintain their independence.