Stop the bleeding tonight, harden the house this week
Wandering is one of the highest-stakes dementia behaviors. The first 24 hours focus on prevention layers. The first week is about the longer-term registration and tracking that helps police find your parent fast if it happens again.
#1
Tonight, two cheap layers
Battery-operated door alarms (under $20 at hardware stores or Amazon) that chirp when the door opens. Most experienced dementia caregivers put one on every exterior door including the door to the garage. Second, install the Life360 app on your parent's phone if they carry one, and Tile GPS trackers in the wallet, on the keys, and clipped inside a coat pocket. None of this is a substitute for supervision but they give you a real cushion.
#2
This week, register with Project Lifesaver or MedicAlert + Safe Return
Project Lifesaver is a county-by-county program where the sheriff or police department issues a wearable RF transmitter, and trained responders can locate the wearer within minutes if they wander. Coverage varies by county. Search “Project Lifesaver [your county] WA” or call your local sheriff's non-emergency line. Where Project Lifesaver isn't available, MedicAlert + Safe Return (run nationally by the Alzheimer's Association) is the equivalent ID-bracelet program, with a 24/7 hotline and police coordination.
#3
If your parent is wandering tonight and you can't find them, call 911 immediately
Don't wait. Half of people with dementia who go missing are not found within 24 hours, and outcomes get much worse after that. Tell the dispatcher “dementia patient missing,” not “senior citizen missing.” The first phrase triggers a Silver Alert and brings far more resources.
#4
Call the Alzheimer's Association 24/7 helpline for a behavior consult
The 24/7 line at 1-800-272-3900 has master's-level care consultants who can walk you through wandering-specific de-escalation, environmental changes, medication questions to ask the doctor, and whether sundowning patterns are part of what you're seeing. Free, confidential.
#5
If wandering is happening in a facility, call the LTC Ombudsman
Wandering inside a memory-care facility is called elopement and the facility is required to have a plan for it. The Long-Term Care (LTC) Ombudsman at 1-800-562-6028 can investigate. Ask to see the facility's elopement policy and the timestamps on their last incident. Repeated elopement without a corrective plan is a reportable deficiency.
After the immediate hour
Once the crisis is delayed or stabilized, you have time. Take the standard quiz to get curated picks for the longer arc. COPES eligibility, your AAA, family caregiver support, what to set up before the next round.
These scripts are paraphrased from caregivers who have been through these situations on r/dementia, r/AgingParents, ALZConnected, and AARP. They are not legal or medical advice. The LTC Ombudsman, your AAA, and the Alzheimer's helpline are all free and can advise on the specifics of your situation.