1 Search is an Emergency A Pre Plan for the Search and Rescue of Missing People with Alzheimer’s Disease and other Dementias Janice Hebb – Safely Home - Project Coordinator Alzheimer Society of Manitoba

2 Defining Wandering Behaviour… “movement by a person with dementia, whether aimless or purposeful, on foot or by other means, which occurs when certain cognitive losses and environmental circumstances intersect, causing that person to become lost in an unsupervised and potentially unsafe setting” Silverstein, Flaherty and Tobin (2002)

3 Wandering and Getting Lost All residents with Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia should be considered at risk of wandering and getting lost.

4 Wandering Wandering is a normal symptom of dementia 24% of residents wander from LTC settings The challenge: Create balance between personal freedom and personal safety

5 Types of Wandering Passive wandering Purposeful wandering Night-time wandering Industrious wandering

6 Why Might People with Dementia Wander? Changed Environment Excess Energy Searching for the Past Expressing Boredom Continuing a Habit

7 Pre Plan What can be done in your facility to ensure that you have an effective pre plan if a resident elopes?

8 Pre Plan Review policy and procedure on Search Plan Identify those at risk of wandering in their care plan Complete a resident /client profile –Include a head and shoulder picture –Photocopy soles of shoes or slippers –Update the pictures and photocopy of soles shoes/slippers every 6 months

9 Pre Plan Encourage registration with Safely Home ™ Wandering Registry Program Encourage wearing of Safely Home bracelet Educate staff

10 Search Plan Unique to each organization Identify in - house search coordinator for each shift Identify the staff roles - 2 searchers per shift Ensure each staff member understands their role in the search

11 When Lost… People with Alzheimer’s Disease or another dementia have a 50% chance of being injured or dying from exposure, hypothermia or drowning if they are not found within the first 12 hours! SEARCH IS AN EMERGENCY!

12 For More Information Contact - Janice Hebb Safely Home – Project Coordinator Alzheimer Society of Manitoba 10 – 120 Donald Street Winnipeg, MB R3C 4G2 (204) Ext or the regional office nearest you