Introduction
Wandering—sometimes called elopement—is a common and preventable safety risk for people living with dementia and for autistic children and teens. Most people living with dementia will wander at some point, and many do so more than once. Research also suggests that about half of autistic children and teens wander or bolt at some point; when they do, the most serious dangers are drowning and traffic. Knowing this ahead of time is what makes planning so valuable.
For families in California—including the Inland Empire (Redlands, San Bernardino, and Riverside counties)—there are concrete steps, statewide alerts, county registries, and tools that can dramatically improve outcomes if a loved one goes missing.
Understanding Wandering and Elopement
What Is “Wandering,” and Why Does It Happen?
Wandering (elopement) means leaving a safe environment or caregiver without notice, which can quickly become dangerous near water, traffic, heat or cold, or unfamiliar places.
In dementia, getting lost can happen at any stage, not just late in the disease. Common triggers include confusion about location, trying to return to a former home or workplace, searching for familiar people, or responding to an unmet need such as hunger, thirst, or needing the bathroom.
In autism, reasons include sensory overload, curiosity, anxiety, or a focused interest, and the risk is well documented across childhood. A child may leave to reach something interesting, to escape an overwhelming situation, or to follow a pattern or routine.
What This Means for California Families
If your loved one has cognitive impairment or autism—even if symptoms seem mild—assume some risk of wandering and plan now. Early preparation saves critical time when seconds matter.
California’s Alert Systems and How They Help
California law enforcement can request several public alerts to mobilize rapid community help.
Silver Alert
For missing people who are 65 or older, or anyone who is developmentally disabled or cognitively impaired. The alert is broadcast across highway message boards, news outlets, and social media to enlist public assistance.
Endangered Missing Advisory (EMA)
For at-risk missing children or other endangered people; California’s EMA complies with the federal Ashanti Alert Act. It is used when the criteria for other alerts are not met but the person is clearly endangered.
Ebony Alert
For missing Black youth and women (a law enacted in 2024). It addresses the historical under-response to missing people of color and helps ensure equitable attention to every missing person.
Feather Alert
For missing Indigenous people in California. It recognizes the disproportionate rates of missing Indigenous persons and supports culturally responsive search efforts.
How to Access Alerts
Active alerts are posted by the California Highway Patrol (CHP), including through @CHPAlerts on social media. Law enforcement decides which alert to activate based on the specific criteria and circumstances.
County Registries and “Return Home Safe” Programs
Many sheriff’s offices and police departments offer confidential registries so first responders can quickly identify and reunite at-risk individuals.
San Bernardino County Sheriff: Safe Return Program
This registry includes a photo, routines, communication preferences, and emergency contact information. Enrollment is voluntary and free. Deputies can access the information immediately when responding to a missing-person call.
Riverside County Sheriff: Special Needs Reunification Program
Serves the Inland Empire with similar registry services. Families can register a loved one with dementia, autism, or another condition that increases wandering risk.
San Diego Sheriff: Take Me Home
This regional registry has been adopted by multiple California counties. Similar options exist in Orange, Sacramento, Gilroy, and other communities throughout the state.
What This Means for Inland Empire Families
If you live in Redlands, Riverside, or San Bernardino, these registries give deputies information before a crisis—even preferred places, triggers, and communication needs—so searches start smarter and faster.
Action step: Register today. It takes about 10 to 15 minutes and could save your loved one’s life.
Tracking Tools: GPS, Radio-Frequency (RF), and ID Services
Several tools can help locate a person who has wandered. Each works differently, and many families layer more than one.
Project Lifesaver (RF Wristbands)
Used by many California agencies (for example, Los Angeles County’s L.A. Found initiative) to locate a missing person by radio signal. Participating agencies report that searches using it are typically much faster than searches without it. Costs vary by county—some programs are free, others charge an equipment fee. The person wears a small transmitter on the wrist or ankle; when they are reported missing, trained search teams use directional receivers to track the signal.
MedicAlert + Safe & Found (ID and 24/7 Response)
An engraved medical ID backed by a 24/7 emergency response team that can coordinate with law enforcement to reunite families. Membership plans are available at a range of annual prices depending on the features you choose. When the ID is scanned or the hotline is called, the response team pulls up the person’s profile and reaches their emergency contacts and local authorities.
Consumer GPS Wearables
Caregiver-linked watches and devices allow real-time location tracking through a smartphone app. Los Angeles County now offers a GPS smartwatch option through L.A. Found. These devices need a cellular or GPS signal and regular charging.
Evidence and Caveats
Research suggests that GPS and RF tools can be acceptable and useful, but performance varies with:
- Battery life
- Indoor reception
- Cellular coverage
- Whether the person will wear the device
- Terrain and environmental factors
The evidence is mixed and still evolving. No technology is foolproof, so layering several safety strategies is essential.
Practical Prevention: Home, School, and Community
Prevention works best in layers, combining everyday habits with the tools and registries above.
For Dementia Care Partners: A 10-Step Checklist
These widely recommended strategies reflect common guidance for dementia safety:
Step 1: Create a safety plan. Prepare a plan with recent photos (taken within the last six months), medical information, a list of likely destinations, and a note of nearby hazards, especially water.
Step 2: Enroll in a county registry. Register with Safe Return, Take Me Home, or your local program, and consider Project Lifesaver or MedicAlert.
Step 3: Secure exits. Install door alarms or chimes, or place deadbolts high or low and out of the line of sight. Use night lights to reduce confusion, and consider motion-sensor alerts on doors and gates.
Step 4: Label and identify. Make sure your loved one wears medical ID jewelry. Keep a recent photo on your phone and share it with neighbors. Consider sewn-in clothing labels with contact information.
Step 5: Avoid high-confusion settings. When possible, avoid busy malls or crowded events. Plan travel carefully and keep to familiar routines. Before an outing, scout the exits and pick a safe gathering point.
Step 6: Secure car keys. If driving is unsafe, keep car keys out of sight. If wandering involves trying to drive, consider disabling or relocating the vehicle.
Step 7: Tell neighbors. Ask trusted neighbors and local businesses to call you if they notice wandering. Give them a photo and a brief description.
Step 8: Practice check-ins. Set regular check-in times and keep consistent daily routines. Calendar apps or alarm reminders can help both the caregiver and the person with dementia.
Step 9: Swim safety. If water is nearby (pools, ponds, lakes, or the ocean), add layers of protection such as barriers, close supervision, and swimming lessons if appropriate. Drowning is a leading cause of death in wandering incidents.
Step 10: Rehearse your “missing now” plan. Practice your response with everyone who helps care for your loved one. Decide in advance who will call 911, who will search where, and what information to give the dispatcher.
For Autism Families: School and Community
Use Ready-Made Safety Kits
The Autism Speaks Safety Kit includes a school and IEP letter template and a family wandering emergency plan. These tools help coordinate a response across home, school, and community.
IEP Planning in California
In California, IEP teams can include emergency planning, and elopement supports can be written into the IEP or Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP). Strategies may include:
- Visual schedules and social stories
- Designated safe spaces
- Staff training on de-escalation
- Door alarms and monitoring systems
- One-to-one support during high-risk times
National Resources
The National Autism Association offers the Big Red Safety Box (a free kit when available) along with updated drowning-risk resources. The box includes window decals, door alarms, ID cards, and emergency contact forms.
If you or someone you know is in crisis
- Call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room for any life-threatening emergency.
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — call or text 988, available 24/7. En español: marque 988 y oprima 2. Veterans: 988 y oprima 1, or text 838255.
- Crisis Text Line — text HOME to 741741.
- The Trevor Project (crisis support for LGBTQ+ young people) — call 1-866-488-7386, or text START to 678-678.
- Riverside County — 24/7 crisis line 951-686-HELP (4357); CARES line 800-499-3008.
- San Bernardino County — DBH Screening/Referral 800-968-2636; DBH ACCESS 888-743-1478 (24/7); Mobile Crisis/CCRT 800-398-0018; crisis text 909-420-0560. Arrowhead Regional Medical Center (ARMC) has a dedicated adolescent psychiatric ER (ages 13–17).
- NP Fady (non-emergency) — for routine scheduling or questions, call (909) 707-6261. This line is not monitored for emergencies.