The search for Shin Noh, a 64-year-old dementia patient, continues eight days after he left his home to go for a hike in Coquitlam.
Wandering, the behavior that led Shin Noh to becoming lost, is something as many as 60 per cent of people with dementia do.
Confusion, caused by the disease, can turn something as simple as taking the garbage out into a life-or-death search.
“In some cases, an individual will know that they are lost and will become concerned that they lost,” says Rebecca Morris with the Alzheimer Society of B.C. “And, in other cases, people will think that the route they are taking is the right route home and they will continue in that direction.”
As our population ages, the number of people living with dementia is expected to rise.
In the next 25 years, it will more than double to 177,000 cases in B.C. alone.
In turn , one can expect more vulnerable people to become lost.
So until there’s a cure, what can one do?
“We have our identification kit brochure that has information about the person, it has information on any identifying features and a place for a recent photo,” says Morris.
By filling out the form ahead of time, that information can be given to the police immediately, should the need ever arise. It also has information on location devices that can be a good option for some families.
GPS locating devices come in numerous forms, from watches to shoes — and are an effective way to quickly track a missing person. It is a system embraced by several police agencies in Britain and the U.S.
But, due to privacy issues, they can be controversial
“We always encourage families to be as respectful as possible when considering options like these,” says Morris.
There are many preventative and harm reduction measures that can be taken, but none are a hundred per cent efficient.
“The most important thing to do is to call 9-1-1 right away,” says Morris. “It is a medical emergency if someone with dementia goes missing.”
Go here for more information on how to deal with a loved one with dementia who wanders. These are tips to help keep them safe or help police find them if they get lost.
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