Harm from missing incidents among people with dementia prompts call for ‘preventative action’

Researchers are calling for action after a study revealed concerns around the level of serious harm faced by people with dementia when they go missing.

The study, led by researchers at University College London (UCL), reviewed data from 1,540 police-recorded missing incidents involving people aged 65 and over across two police forces in England and Wales from 2015 to 2021.

Researchers found that 27% of these incidents involved people with dementia, although they noted this is ‘likely’ an underestimate as some cases may not have recorded someone’s dementia diagnosis.

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Of cases involving those with dementia, almost one in 10 (9.4%) resulted in ‘significant harm’ such as serious injuries, including one recorded death.

Authors of the study are now calling for ‘dementia-specific prevention strategies’ to be developed to reduce harm and improve safety outcomes.

Lead author, from UCL’s division of psychiatry, Dr Vasiliki Orgeta said: ‘Missing incidents are not entirely uncommon among people with dementia and they can pose meaningful risks, yet this risk is not adequately addressed by health and social care services.

‘We need to develop proactive, integrated, and dementia-specific prevention strategies to reduce harm and improve safety outcomes for this vulnerable and underserved population.

‘Health professionals could also develop targeted risk assessments for people with dementia, particularly those living at home or transitioning between care settings.’

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Researchers found that the risk of harm in people with dementia was ‘significantly associated’ with older age, being reported missing at night, and longer duration of absence – longer than 24 hours.

Of the identified cases involving dementia, over three quarters (78%) of people went missing from their own homes, rather than long-term care or hospitals, and 30% of people had gone missing more than once.

The researchers of the study, published in the journal Age and Ageing, called for increased public awareness, dedicated funding, and better integration across services.

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Co-author Lawrence Fong, also from UCL division of psychiatry, who led the analysis, said: ‘Missing incidents are highly distressing for people with dementia and their families and can result in serious harm even if the individuals are found relatively quickly.

‘People caring for family members with dementia need to be aware of the risks so they can help keep them safe.’