1. People with dementia: wander-walking and getting lost
Professor Jan Dewing
Sue Pembrey Chair & Director,
Centre for Person-centred Practice Research
QMU Edinburgh

2. Literature Review Mix of literature Methodology and methods
Research
Opinion/expert position
Reports/policies
Media
Methodology and methods
Quantitative, mainly survey
caregivers, media reports
Lack of theory one attempt at a conceptual model of causes
USA, Japan and Ireland

3. Findings Conceptual separation of wander-walking from getting lost
People go missing during everyday usual activities
Unpredictability and unexpectedness of the missing incident
Always occurs in absence of supervision
Notable differences in circumstances between persons found alive and those found dead
Caregivers have a poor uptake of preventative interventions
Search strategies
Availability of interventions

4. Conceptual separation of wander-walking from getting lost
Past studies have used people who wander-walk
Definitions of wander-walking were unclear as wander-walking was poorly understood in research and more so in practice and by caregivers
Most people with dementia will wander-walk at some point. Many will not get lost
People can get lost with out wander-walking and on one occasion only

5. People go missing during everyday usual activities
Approx 40% of people go missing
104 missing incidents in 79 people in a 12 month period
Mostly active males
44% left from inside their home and a further 20% from outside the home
Remaining people were out and about in their local community

6. Unpredictability and unexpectedness of the missing incident
Approx 46% of people were last seen within 10 minutes before the caregiver realised they were missing
For 12% it was 1-2 hours
72% of caregivers reported no change in usual activities or routines, mood or cognitive ability

7. Always occurs in absence of supervision
Caregiver occupied elsewhere – close by Or
Caregiver assessed that person was able to carry out an activity on their own. Only when person took longer than usual that alarm was raised
Person would ‘problem solve’ for themselves and head off for a location they believed was appropriate.
During night time and caregiver is sleeping (bathroom was often the intended location)

8. Notable differences in circumstances between persons found alive and those found dead
Remained out in open and in a populated area
Dead
Natural area and isolated
Water a particular risk
Person often hides
Highest death rates are in July January December February and August

9. Search strategies
80% searches start quickly and within and around the home or place last seen
Then caregivers walked or drove to find person
Only 25% of caregivers phoned a friend and fewer called emergency services
50% of people are found near the place last seen with:
12% found within 1 street
40% found within 5-10 mins
17% within mins
23% within 2 hours
59% people found by someone other than caregiver
Neighbours
Shop workers
Response of person with dementia

10. Availability of interventions & caregiver uptake
47% did nothing different
22% increased supervision – or intended to
10% added or increased restraints such as door locks or removed driving opportunities
Informal safe return schemes
Formalised safe return schemes
Movement and location monitoring RT and GPS
Subcutaneous microchipping

11. Scotland
CHIP AND PINPOINT Dementia sufferers should be implanted with tracking device to find them if they go missing, says expert

13. http://www. japantimes. co

14. https://www. westyorkshire. police