Getting Help
There is a wealth of information sites, and organisations that you may find helpful to contact. We have identified ones that are most relevant for people at risk of going missing due to cognitive impairment and their families / whānau and carers.
If a person is missing and you have any concerns for their welfare please call 111 immediately – do not delay.
Advice relating to people with cognitive impairment (including dementia) who have a risk of going missing:
If a person with dementia goes missing – Advice from Alzheimer’s New Zealand
Try not to panic.
Make a thorough search of the house, surrounding area, and known routes. Notify your neighbours and ask if anyone has seen the missing person.
Contact your local ambulance and hospitals in case they have picked up the person and are caring for them.
If there is an immediate life risk to the person (i.e: extremes of weather / poor health) or if you are unable to find them in the immediate neighbourhood within 15-20 minutes, call 111 and ask for Police.
Important questions the Police may have include providing a good description of the person, information about past walking, or where the person may have gone, e.g. old neighbourhoods, former workplaces or favourite places. This information can be recorded in advance just in case it is needed on a Safer Walking Profile Form.
Providing a recent photo of the person will be useful for Police and other searchers.
Police will arrange in some areas for local taxis and public transport to keep a lookout for the person.
A person may have a regular route they take when out walking. If you know this route and they are longer than expected it may help lessen the search time as you will know the time they normally take and the routes they follow.
When the missing person is found:
Don’t fuss. Reassure. Remain calm.
Join them – walk with them and gradually move in the direction of home.
If you are in a car, offer the person a lift.
Don’t forget to notify all possible ‘searchers’ when the person has been found, including the police.
Medical Assistance
Connecting with your medical health professional is important for the person at risk’s general health. A general practitioner (GP) provides medical care in the community and will usually be your first point of contact. Access to some services requires a diagnosis of the cognitive impairment, your GP is the professional who can help you with this, or they may need to refer you to a specialist and supporting health and disability services. To find your local medical center/practice see the below website. The Healthpoint website also provides information about healthcare providers, referral expectations, services offered and common treatments. See this link for more information.
Firstport provides information and links for advice, support or equipment relating to disability in New Zealand. See this link for more information.
The Healthify He Puna Waiora website contains health information and self-care resources. See this link for more information.
The Health NZ website contains information about New Zealand’s health system. For older people who have dementia there are Supports and programmes for the health of older people. The section on Home support services for older people and others summarises the support services that may be available, and how to access them. If you have a disability, there is a page on Services for disabled people.
International resource – Dementia
The International Consortium on Dementia and Wayfinding (ICDW) is an international organisation of people (researchers, workers in health/community organisations, police and people with dementia) with an interest in prevention of episodes of being missing. The goals of the ICDW include prevention and minimization of harm and stigma through timely and effective search processes in the event of being missing. The website contains links to current research, and resources. Note – the Safer Walking Profile is closely based on the Herbert Protocol referred to in the ICDW Tools and Documents section. See this link for more information.
Autism New Zealand
Autism New Zealand provides support, information and education on autism for individuals, their family/whānau, caregivers, and professionals who engage with them.
See this link for more information.
Altogether Autism
Altogether Autism is a free, autism information and advisory service funded by the Ministry of Health. They supply information to autistic people, to parents, educators, support workers, GPs, police and any other professional working with adults or children on the autism spectrum. See this link for more information about wandering behaviour and autism.
Explore Behavioural Services
Explore works with people who have challenging behaviours that impact on their own lives and others as well. Their behaviour support services are based on the Positive Behaviour Support model, which aims to improve a person’s quality of life and the quality of life of those around them.
See this link for more information.
Ministry of Education – Learning and Behaviour Support
Learning Support teams work with schools and kura to meet the needs of tamaraki. If you have concerns about your child’s learning, communication or behaviour please read: Supporting your child if they need extra help with their learning.
The Early intervention Service is a learning support service for children which can support children from birth to the start of primary school, supporting a child’s developmental delay, disability, behaviour and/or communication difficulties. To read more click here: Learning support when your child moves to school.
The Personal Advocacy and Safeguarding Adults Trust
The Personal Advocacy and Safeguarding Adults Trust provide a range of safeguarding services and supports. These include Supported Decision-Making support and training, short term advocacy and lifelong advocacy, and a coordinated inter-agency response for Adults at Risk. The Trust offers parents and other interested persons an opportunity to invest in peace of mind for the future through membership and enrollment. The Trust also extends support to people not enrolled in the Trust.
People First New Zealand
People First New Zealand is a self advocacy organisation that is led and directed by people with learning (intellectual) disability. People First is part of an international movement fighting for the rights and inclusion of all people with learning disability. People First also has a Disability Information and Advice Service. See this link for more information.
Alzheimers New Zealand
Alzheimers NZ is a national organisation that represents people living with dementia, the website contains information on most aspects of living with dementia including Safer Walking. See this link for more information.
Local Alzheimers organisations provide support, education, information and related services in the community to people with dementia. To find your local Alzheimers organisation and other useful links see this link.
Dementia New Zealand
Dementia New Zealand provides national information and guidance about dementia | mate wareware through its website and Dementia Navigator education hub.
Support and education services are delivered locally through a network of Affiliates, including Dementia Tai Tokerau (Northland), Dementia North (Auckland, Waikato & Lakes), Dementia Hawkes Bay, Dementia Wellington, and Dementia Canterbury (including the West Coast).
Find out more about Dementia New Zealand and its Affiliate network here.
Age Concern New Zealand
Age Concern New Zealand is a national organisation dedicated to people over 65. Their website contains much information of interest to older people. Support services including social activities are delivered through their local Age Concern branches. See this link for more information. To find your nearest Age Concern see this link.
Brain Injury New Zealand
Brain Injury NZ offers support and resources to those who are affected by a Brain Injury whether it be their own injury, or the injury of a loved one. Brain Injury NZ understand the daily struggles and the constant readjustments required, and have the resources and links needed to begin enjoying life again. They are to help and support you. To find your local support office click here.
Seniorline
Seniorline is a national information service to help older people and their whānau navigate the health system. They provide a list of resources to help you stay living at home, including for equipment and safety.
Harris List
The Harris list is a navigation tool to link you through to the dementia resources you are looking for.
What are you looking for?
