Wandering Is a Crisis Signal
Six in ten people with dementia will wander. The first incident often ends safely, but statistics are brutal: if a person isn’t found within 24 hours, the risk of serious injury or death jumps dramatically. Treat wandering as an emergency, not a quirk.
Immediate Safety Steps
Install door alarms, secure windows, alert neighbors, and notify local law enforcement with a recent photo. Enroll your parent in the MedicAlert® + Safe Return® program. Sleep near exits tonight if you must. These are stopgaps — not solutions.
Why Wandering Often Means Home Isn't Safe
Wandering usually occurs because of unmet needs: wanting to “go home,” bathroom confusion, old routines resurfacing. In a standard house, you can’t watch someone every second. Adult family homes with secured layouts, motion sensors, and awake overnight staff can.
What Secure Memory Care Provides
Look for keypad exits, enclosed yards, sensor mats, and staff trained to redirect gently. Ask how many wanderers they currently support and what technology (door chimes, GPS wearables) they use. Homes should have written elopement protocols and drills.
Washington-Specific Resources
Contact the Alzheimer's Association Washington Chapter for free wandering safety kits. Some police departments offer Take Me Home registries. Washington State's Silver Alert system activates quickly when families report a missing vulnerable adult — memorize the process.
How to Find a Secured Care Home Fast
Use our emergency placement team or filter listings for “secured memory care.” When calling homes, lead with “We need 24/7 secured memory care for active wandering.” Providers will prioritize assessments when they know safety is compromised.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can we just add more locks? A: Additional locks often violate fire code and can trap residents in emergencies. Safer to move.
Q: Are GPS trackers enough? A: Helpful, but they don't prevent elopement — only help after it happens.
Q: Will Medicaid pay for secured care? A: Yes, in contracted AFHs with secured environments.
Q: How do we convince our parent? A: Frame it as a safety upgrade: “We found a place where you can walk safely without worrying.”