People with dementia
People with dementia are vulnerable. If their orientation is affected, they may not remember the way home and may wander off. Use these tips to reduce the risk of someone with dementia going missing.
Urgent advice
Persons with dementia are often vulnerable, which is why prompt and appropriate action is very important.
A person with dementia has less sense of danger and usually underestimates the consequences. Therefore, look for example at busy intersections, highways or near water.
It sometimes happens that people think the person is gone, while he or she is still in or around the institution. Therefore, look in stairwells, toilets and rooms of fellow residents.
Locations
Ask yourself the questions like: What did the person intend to do? Where was the person traveling? What are the person’s interests and routines?
A person with dementia is often looking for a familiar environment such as the parental home, an (old) work location, a canteen or a pub.
Persons with dementia often go out walking or biking. This may cause them to wander. Often soon after they leave.
Often persons with dementia try to reach a location in a familiar manner and pattern. Perhaps the person is on the way to a (former) loved one or a familiar place.
Also search in close proximity to these routes and locations. When an unexpected event occurs, a person with dementia may become disoriented and unintentionally deviate from his or her route.
Persons with dementia tire more quickly and then tend to seek shelter. The moment the weather turns bad or dark, the person may seek shelter or sleep. For example, in a ditch or behind a bush.
The person may have boarded public transportation that he or she used to take more often. The person can also try to get to a familiar location by public transportation.
Note that the worse a person suffers from dementia, the less likely the person is to use a means of transportation or public transportation.
In addition to this specific advice, read the advice in the roadmap. There are also a number of measures you can take ahead of time to reduce the chances of going missing.