Wandering

Safety. Awareness. Education.

Wandering or elopement is the tendency for an individual to leave a safe area or care, which may result in potential harm or injury,

Who Is At Risk?

Everyone living with Alzheimer's or dementia is at risk for wandering. Approximately half of children and youth with ASD were reported to wander. Primary reasons for wandering include:

To get out of a situation that causes stress
To go see something interesting
Having difficulty locating familiar places
Forgetting how to get to familiar places

Photo credit: Darret Pullins

Reduce The Risk

Install Home Safeguards

Install secure locks, home security systems, and use visual prompts to help reduce the risk of wandering. Store items that may trigger a person's instinct to leave out of sight (coats, hats, pocketbooks, keys and wallets).

Teach Safety Skills

Enroll your loved one into swimming lessons. Know the neighborhood and identify potentially dangerous areas near the home such as bodies of water or dense vegetation.

Be Prepared

Keep a recent photo to provide to first responders if the person has walked away. Notify neighbors and friends of the potential of your loved one wandering. Request they notify you if they suspect them to be wandering.

Register with S.A.V.E.S Project

The S.A.V.E.S Project logo is designed to help identify vulnerable individuals in our community. By utilizing the QR code, a personal profile can be accessed to obtain information.

Photo credit: Darret Pullins

Take Action When Wandering Occurs

Make sure there is a response plan in place in case of a wandering emergency. It is important to remember to remain calm during these emergencies and call 911. It is best to search near water first and move on to other threatening areas from there. Check out our resources below for more!

Alzheimer's Association

Autism Alliance of MI

National Autism Association