What should you do when someone with dementia or Alzheimer’s goes missing? In this episode, John Clark, a search and rescue specialist who focuses on Alzheimer’s and dementia cases, shares his experience helping locate missing people and explains why immediate action is critical.

The conversation explores dementia wandering and elopement, why people with dementia may become lost, and the risks involved when a missing person is not found quickly. John discusses what families and caregivers can do to prepare for wandering, including safety strategies, identification, tracking technology, and understanding a person’s individual behaviors and needs.

The episode also looks at the role of law enforcement, first responders, search and rescue teams, and community volunteers in finding missing people with dementia. John highlights the importance of dementia-specific training and dispels common misconceptions about missing person searches, offering practical information for caregivers and families on how to respond when a loved one goes missing.

Takeaways

• Emotional involvement is a significant driver in wandering, and immediate action is crucial in missing person cases.
• There are misconceptions about the time frame for reporting missing persons, and early intervention is essential in preventing and addressing wandering. Observing patterns and understanding individual needs is crucial
• Immediate action and collaboration with search and rescue teams are essential

Chapters

• 00:00 Personal Journey into Search and Rescue
• 01:14 Impact of Alzheimer's on Perspective
• 03:00 Commonality of Search and Rescue Calls
• 04:16 Emotional Involvement and Misconceptions
• 05:14 Risk Factors and Prevention
• 11:09 Law Enforcement Training and Intervention
• 19:31 Immediate Action and Prevention Strategies
• 25:19 Understanding Wandering Behavior
• 26:43 Challenges in Long-Term Care Communities
• 27:11 Controversial Prevention Strategies
• 28:34 Effectiveness of Prevention Tools
• 30:11 Community Involvement in Search and Rescue
• 34:44 Utilizing Technology for Prevention
• 38:12 The Role of Scent Kits and Safety Measures
• 43:21 Immediate Action and Collaboration

In today's episode, we discuss the difference between dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Understanding the distinction between Alzheimer's and dementia is crucial for diagnosis, treatment, safety, and communication.

Dementia is a syndrome involving changes in cognitive abilities that interfere with everyday life and a person's ability to function independently. Alzheimer's disease is a specific brain disease and is the most common cause of dementia.

Episode Takeaways:

• Dementia is not another word for Alzheimer's disease.
• Understanding the distinction between Alzheimer's and dementia is crucial for diagnosis, treatment, safety, and communication.

Chapters

• 00:00 Understanding Dementia
• 02:21 Alzheimer's Disease: A Specific Brain Disease
• 03:44 The Dementia Family Tree
• 05:13 Types of Dementia: Alzheimer's, Lewy Body, Frontotemporal, Vascular, and Mixed
• 10:18 Why the Distinction Matters

If you’re living with dementia, caring for someone with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, or simply looking for trustworthy, evidence-based dementia education, you’re in the right place.

The Dementia Ally Podcast makes dementia education clear, accessible, practical, and grounded in the best available evidence so you can make informed, confident decisions, wherever you are in the dementia journey.

We’ll explore dementia—from understanding the different types and improving communication to navigating everyday challenges and practical ways to support quality of life for everyone involved.

You’ll hear conversations with healthcare professionals, researchers, care partners, and experts in aging and dementia care, along with practical tools and resources you can begin using right away.