What to Do if Your Elderly Loved One Wanders Away from Home

Elderly Care in Plainsboro NJ

The first few moments after realizing that your elderly loved one has wandered away from home can be terrifying, to say the very least. Having a plan in place can help you to stay calm while you search.

Grab a Recent Picture and Medical Information

If you don’t already have copies of a recent picture of your elderly loved one, it’s time to make several copies. For an elderly loved one who is prone to wandering often, it’s even better to take the time to make up a flyer with your loved one’s picture and her pertinent information, including important medical information, if applicable. Make sure your phone number is on the flyer, too. Keep these in an accessible location and when you fear your loved one has wandered away, you can grab a handful to take out the door with you.

Start Looking Around the House

Presumably you’ve already checked inside the house, so take a few quick moments to look around the outside of the house. Your loved one may simply have gone to a different part of the yard or you noticed that she was gone quickly enough that she’s still right there. So it pays to take the couple of minutes this takes to see if she’s still nearby.

Ask Neighbors if They’ve Seen Your Loved One

If you do need to expand the search, look for neighbors who might be outside. It’s possible that they noticed your loved one, even if they didn’t realize that she was in the process of getting lost. Leave a picture with neighbors and be sure they see your phone number so they can contact you if they do see your loved one.

Call for Help

Even as you’re initiating your search, you may already be calling your loved one’s other family members for some extra help. You may need extra eyes looking for your loved one and they can help. Setting up a phone tree allows you to call a point person who then contacts other family members. Depending on how long it’s been since the last time you saw your elderly loved one, you may want to contact local law enforcement as well so that they can help in the search.

Work with your loved one’s doctors, elderly care providers, and other family members to set up a plan that helps you locate her quickly in case of this kind of emergency.

If you or an aging loved one are considering elderly care in Plainsboro, NJ, please contact the caring staff at Care Street Home Care of New Brunswick today. Call (732) 607-8870.