Why people with dementia wander
The Alzheimer's Association says six in 10 people living with dementia will wander at least once, and many do it more than once. Anyone with memory problems who can still walk is at risk.
Wandering usually has a reason, even if your mom can't explain it. She may be:
- Looking for something or someone, like a parent who passed long ago or "home."
- Trying to go to work or pick up the kids, following an old routine.
- Restless, bored, or needing to move.
- Scared or overwhelmed by noise or a crowd.
- Looking for the bathroom, food, or water.
- Confused in the evening. Wandering often goes with sundowning.
Safety steps at home
You can't watch someone every second. These steps lower the risk:
- Door alarms and chimes. Simple chimes or alarms on outside doors let you know when a door opens. Pressure mats by the bed or door can alert you at night.
- Locks out of sight. Put a deadbolt high or low on outside doors, where it is not easy to see. Keep a way to get out quickly in a fire.
- Hide the car keys. If driving is no longer safe, keep keys out of reach.
- Keep coats, purses, and shoes out of view by the door. Seeing them can trigger the urge to leave.
- Use night lights in halls and bathrooms so trips at night don't turn into getting lost.
- Know the risky times. Plan activity and exercise for those hours.
- Tell neighbors. Give them your number and ask them to call if they see your dad out alone.
- Keep a recent photo and a list of his medicines and conditions ready to hand to police.
ID bracelets and tracking
A medical ID bracelet or necklace with their name, "memory impaired," and your phone number helps anyone who finds them get them home.
The MedicAlert Foundation offers a program called Safe & Found for people with dementia who may wander. It pairs a medical ID with a 24/7 emergency line that can share health information with first responders and contact the family.
GPS devices, like a watch, a clip-on tracker, or a phone app, can also show where someone is. They work best when the person will actually wear or carry them, so try one before you need it.
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If your loved one is missing
Minutes matter. Act fast.
- Check quickly close by. Look in the house, closets, garage, backyard, and the car. Check the pool first if you have one.
- Call 911 right away. Don't wait to see if they come back. The Alzheimer's Association says to call 911 if the person is not found within 15 minutes. Many families call even sooner, and that is the right call.
- Tell the dispatcher they have dementia. Give a recent photo, what they were wearing, their medicines, and places they might go, like an old home, a job, or church.
- Call MedicAlert if they are enrolled, so the emergency line is part of the search.
- Have someone stay at home in case they come back.
In California, police can ask the CHP to issue a Silver Alert for a missing older adult or someone who is cognitively impaired.
People with dementia who wander often go in a straight line, may hide in bushes or ditches, and usually don't call out for help. In Fresno's summer heat, being lost outside for even a short time is dangerous.
How secured memory care helps
Wandering is one of the top reasons families move a loved one to memory care. In California, licensed homes that care for residents with dementia must follow extra state rules. These include alarms or alert devices on outside doors and gates for residents who may wander, and space where residents can walk freely and safely.
Some homes also use delayed-exit doors or secured outdoor areas. State rules allow these only with approval and fire clearance, and they can't replace enough trained staff.
A good memory care home gives your mom freedom to walk, a safe garden, and things to do, while making sure she can't slip out onto a busy street. Many families tell us they finally sleep through the night. Learn more on our memory care in Fresno page, or see how a smaller board and care home can work for some people.
If you are caring for someone at home for now, local groups offer free help and a break. See dementia caregiver support in Fresno.
Updated September 2026 by Shaun and Nick, co-founders of CalValley Senior Living Advisors.