What should I do if my loved one with Alzheimer’s wanders? Start searching immediately. Check nearby areas and places they know; if you have not found them within 15 minutes, call 911 and report a missing person. Tell the dispatcher and responding officers that the person has Alzheimer’s disease or dementia and is a vulnerable adult. Keep searching while help is on the way, and follow responders’ instructions. The 15-minute mark is an escalation point in Alzheimer’s Association guidance—not a reason to wait if you believe emergency help is needed sooner.
What to do when someone with dementia is missing
- Start looking right away. Search the immediate area, including less-traveled places, and check destinations the person has visited before. Ask nearby people to help if you can do so safely.
- Call 911 if they are not found within 15 minutes. Report a missing person and explain that they have Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. The Alzheimer’s Association’s emergency guidance recommends identifying the person as a “vulnerable adult.” If the circumstances call for immediate emergency help, call sooner.
- Share information that can help responders. Provide a recent, close-up photo and current medical information. Tell them about likely destinations and nearby hazards such as ponds, busy roads, tunnels, or dense foliage.
- Continue searching and coordinate. Follow instructions from police and other responders. Do not use distance estimates as a boundary for your search or as a reason to delay calling.
The Alzheimer’s Association’s wandering guidance says many people who wander are found within 1.5 miles of where they disappeared. Its separate emergency-planning page says most are found within a half mile of home or their starting location and warns that, if a person is not found within 24 hours, up to half may suffer serious injury or death. These are estimates from different Association pages, not a single combined search radius. Neither estimate should limit where you look or delay emergency escalation.
Prepare before an incident
Make it easier to identify the person and notify responders
- Keep a recent, close-up photo and current medical information somewhere you can access quickly.
- Write down places they may head toward, including former homes or workplaces, places of worship, favorite restaurants, and other familiar destinations. Note hazards along likely routes.
- Ask neighbors, friends, and family to contact you if they see the person alone, lost, or dressed inappropriately. Let local police know about the person’s tendency to wander.
- Consider identification with the person’s name and a caregiver phone number. The National Institute on Aging (NIA) suggests a medical ID bracelet; if the person may remove it, labeling clothing is another option.
Keep a likely-destinations and hazards list
A short, practical list can help family members and responders search efficiently: familiar places, routes the person may take, and hazards near those routes. Update it when routines or living arrangements change.
Reduce wandering risk while respecting safety and dignity
The Alzheimer’s Association says everyone living with Alzheimer’s or another dementia is at risk of wandering, and it can happen at any stage. Its page, accessed in 2026, says six in 10 people living with dementia will wander at least once; the page does not state a publication year for that figure.
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Notice possible signs and patterns
- Returning later than usual from a regular walk or drive, or forgetting familiar routes.
- Saying they need to go home while already at home.
- Pacing or repeating movements.
- Appearing lost in a new or changed setting.
Address needs and routines
Meaningful activities and a predictable routine may help, especially around times when restlessness tends to occur. Check whether the person needs the toilet, food, or water, and offer reassurance if they seem lost or disoriented. Adapt outings and supervision to how they respond to unfamiliar places.
Choose safeguards for the person and setting
At home, options include a door chime or alarm, night lights, clear labels or symbols, door camouflage, and a fenced or otherwise secured outdoor area. NIA also suggests visible warning signs and a smart doorbell or alarm. If using locks or barriers, keep a key nearby for emergencies and never lock the person inside the home. Do not leave someone with a history of wandering unattended; NIA states this directly in its guidance.
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If the person is no longer able to drive safely, remove access to car keys. If they can still drive safely, the Alzheimer’s Association suggests considering GPS support. No alarm, lock, ID, or locator can guarantee that wandering will not happen.
How to choose identification and technology aids
There is no universally best device established by the guidance. Choose based on the person’s habits, the type of risk, the home layout, and whether a caregiver can respond to alerts.
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| Option | May help with | Consider |
|---|---|---|
| Medical ID bracelet or labeled clothing | Helping someone who finds the person identify them and contact a caregiver. | If the person removes a bracelet, clothing labels may be more practical. Identification does not prevent wandering. |
| Door chime, alarm, or smart doorbell | Alerting someone at home when an exit is used. | Consider the home’s layout, who will hear or receive alerts, and whether someone can respond. An alert is not supervision. |
| GPS support or locator | Supporting location efforts when a person may go outdoors or drive. | Choose based on ease of use and the person’s willingness to carry or wear it. Technology features and costs vary; the Association notes that solutions may involve purchase, activation, and recurring costs. |
| MedicAlert + Alzheimer’s Association Safe and Found | A possible wandering-response service. | NIA notes that a charge may apply. Confirm current enrollment availability, fees, terms, and local coverage with the provider. |
These are optional aids, not substitutes for an individualized safety plan or supervision. The reviewed guidance does not establish that any particular device is best or provide a device comparison.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Plan for local emergency procedures
This guidance is based on U.S. sources, where 911 is the emergency number. Local procedures and alert systems—including Silver Alert programs—vary. Ask local police or emergency services how to notify them in advance and what information they may need if the person goes missing.
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