Safer Walking
Supporting people who have a risk of going missing.
Helping people at risk of getting lost in New Zealand
Are you, or someone you know, concerned about the risk of getting lost or going missing when out and about in the community?
The Safer Walking Framework is an initiative coordinated by Land Search and Rescue New Zealand. It is about supporting, educating, and reducing the risk of people that, potentially or actually, get lost or go missing due to dementia, neurodivergence or disability in Aotearoa New Zealand.
The good news is that you are not alone. There are many ideas and strategies that have been developed that you can introduce to help to reduce the risk, while enabling personal freedom to live a healthy active life in the community. Strategies include social activities that help to enable a person to increase safety whilst out and about, ideas to consider about the home environment to reduce the risk of a person leaving unprepared, and technology that can be introduced to aid location. There is an array of people and places you can connect with for getting help.
Listen to New Zealanders telling their own stories of going missing
10–13%
A recent survey in New Zealand indicates that about 10–13% of people with cognitive impairment have a higher risk of going missing.
300,000
We estimate that over 300,000 people in across the motu have some sort of cognitive impairment.
Risk
Most people with cognitive impairment are not at risk of going missing.
Safer Walking Kaupapa
We offer you the best support
Safer Walking Profile Form
Complete a Safer Walking form to help responders act quickly if someone goes missing.
Tools & Technology
Technologies are available to enable a person at risk to feel safe and be able to be located if required.
Home Environment
Ideas for the home environment to encourage safety for people who are at risk from leaving unexpectedly.
Social
Activities that could help reduce the risk of a person wanting to go walking without protective measures.
Getting Help
Here is a menu of organisations and information sites that may provide advice and support for people at risk.
Have any more questions?
”The good news is you are not alone, and there are many ideas that you can introduce to reduce the risk of going missing, while preserving personal freedom to live a healthy active life in the community.“
