Vulnerable populations, including wandering adults, individuals with developmental disabilities, and those with cognitive or medical conditions, may be at increased risk of becoming missing. Understanding these risks is the first step in prevention, response, and recovery.
Search Considerations for Wandering Adults
- They go until they get stuck
- People who wander often continue moving without a clear destination and may not recognize that they are lost or in danger. This can lead them far from their starting point, making a rapid response critical when they are reported missing.
- Appear to lack ability to turn around
- Individuals with dementia or cognitive impairments may lack the ability to recognize they are lost or determine how to return to safety. Even when familiar surroundings are nearby, they may continue moving on one direction and be unable to retrace their steps.
- May be oriented to the past, degree of disease sends them back in time
- They may attempt to return to a former home, workplace, school, or other location that was once familiar and meaningful.
- Coexisting medical problems that limit mobility are common
- May have a previous history of wandering
- Past wandering incidents are one of the strongest indicators a person may wander again
- May be found a short distance from the road
- Search and rescue research has found that approximately 50% of wandering adults with dementia are located within 33 yards of a road or path, and nearly 90% are found within one mile of where they were last seen.
- May not cry out for help or respond to shouts
- Individuals with dementia often do not respond to searchers calling their name and may not actively seek help, even when search teams are nearby.
Search Considerations for Individuals with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities
- May be children or adults
- May have ability to travel considerable distance
- Reactions to searchers may be unpredictable- interview family or caregivers
- Attracted to water
- Over half of missing individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities are found in structures.
- Structures may include homes, sheds, garages, barns, buildings, businesses, schools, or other enclosed areas. Many seek shelter, hide, or enter buildings out of curiosity, fear, comfort, or a desire to avoid unfamiliar people.
Search Considerations for Missing Autistic Individuals
- May be children or adults
- According to a study in Pediatrics, nearly half of children with autism tend to wander/bolt from safe settings
- Prefer being alone, will often leave group or group setting
- No real fears of danger, may have under sensitivity to pain
- Generally non-responsive to verbal cues; can’t be expected to respond to searchers shouts
- In urban areas, 25% found within .2 miles, 50% found within .4 miles, and 75% found within .9 miles with a max zone of 7.7 miles
- According to a study by NAA, accidental drowning accounts for 71% of lethal outcomes, followed by traffic injuries at 18%