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Guide · 7 min read

Dementia and wandering: prevention, tech, and what to do in the first 15 minutes

Around 6 in 10 people with dementia will wander at some point. Most are found safe — and quickly — when families know what to do before it happens.

Why they wander

  • Looking for someone or somewhere from earlier in life — a parent, a former workplace, a childhood home.
  • Restlessness or boredom — under-stimulation is a bigger driver than people realise.
  • Unmet needs without the words: hungry, needing the toilet, in pain, too hot or cold.
  • Trying to 'go home' even when they are home — a sign of disorientation, not a literal request.
  • Sundowning — the late-afternoon spike in confusion and agitation.

Prevention

  • Daily exercise and outdoor time — even 20 minutes reduces evening agitation dramatically.
  • Routine. The same walk, the same time, the same route. Predictability calms the urge to leave.
  • Camouflage the front door — a curtain across it, or a 'STOP' sign, often works because the door stops being a door.
  • Stair gates, contact alarms on doors, or a doorbell that chimes when opened — cheaper than people expect.
  • Remove or lock car keys early. Many wandering incidents start with the car.
  • ID jewellery or a sewn-in label with name and a phone number. No address.
  • Register with your local dementia-friendly scheme: in the UK, the Herbert Protocol; in the US, MedicAlert + Alzheimer's Association Safe Return or local Silver Alert.

Tech that genuinely helps

  • GPS smartwatches designed for dementia (e.g. those with one-button SOS and a long battery) — better than phone apps because they don't need unlocking.
  • AirTag / Tile in a wallet, shoe insole, or sewn into a coat lining. Cheap and reliable as a backup.
  • A second AirTag in the coat they always wear out — wandering people almost always grab the same coat.
  • Door sensors (£15 / $20) on the front door that ping your phone the moment it opens.

The Herbert Protocol & similar schemes

A "missing-person form" you fill in now, while everything is calm, and hand to the police the moment your loved one is missing. It saves the 20 minutes of panicked questions that matter most.

United Kingdom

  • Herbert Protocol — a national police-backed form (named after Herbert, a WWII veteran with dementia who went missing). Covers photo, medication, places of significance, what they wear, mobile numbers. Download from your local police force website (search "[your force] Herbert Protocol"). Keep a copy on the fridge and a digital copy on your phone.
  • Philomena Protocol — the same idea used by some forces (e.g. Greater Manchester) for missing children and vulnerable adults in care settings.
  • Purple Alert (Scotland) — free Alzheimer Scotland app; sends a local alert to opted-in users when someone is reported missing.
  • Safe Places scheme — high-street shops and libraries display a purple sticker; staff are trained to help a confused adult and phone a relative.
  • Hospital Passport / "This is Me" (Alzheimer's Society) — not for wandering directly, but goes with them to A&E so staff know their dementia, triggers, and how to settle them.

United States

  • MedicAlert + Alzheimer's Association (formerly Safe Return) — 24/7 emergency response, engraved ID bracelet, and a wandering-response network. Annual fee.
  • Silver Alert — state-run emergency broadcast (highway signs, media, phone alerts) for missing older adults with cognitive impairment. Available in most states; rules and age thresholds vary.
  • Project Lifesaver — a small radio-frequency wristband worn by the person; local sheriff's deputies carry tracking receivers and typically locate someone within 30 minutes. Check if your county participates.
  • LoJack SafetyNet — similar RF tracking partnership with local law enforcement in many states.
  • Smart911 — free in many cities; you pre-load a profile (photo, diagnosis, address) that pops up on the 911 dispatcher's screen when you call.
  • File of Life — magnetic pouch on the fridge with medical info; paramedics across the US are trained to look for it.

What every form should include

  • Recent head-and-shoulders photo (under 6 months old).
  • Full name, date of birth, height, weight, distinguishing marks.
  • Dementia type and any other conditions (diabetes, heart, mobility).
  • Medications taken — and what happens if a dose is missed.
  • Places of significance: childhood home, former workplace, late spouse's grave, favourite café.
  • The coat / shoes / bag they almost always leave with.
  • Any tracker serial numbers (AirTag, GPS watch) and how to access them.
  • Two emergency contacts with mobile numbers.

If they go missing — the first 15 minutes

  1. Search the house thoroughly first — including cupboards, behind curtains, garden sheds, the car. Most 'missing' people are within 10 metres.
  2. Check the route they walked most often when they were well — a former workplace, a school they once attended, a relative's old house.
  3. Call 999 (UK) / 911 (US) without delay. Police take dementia wandering seriously and have specific protocols. Don't wait 24 hours — that rule does not apply to vulnerable adults.
  4. Tell them: name, age, what they're wearing, dementia diagnosis, where you've already looked, what they might be heading towards, any GPS device serial.
  5. Post in any local community groups (Facebook, Nextdoor) — neighbours often spot them within an hour.