Case Scenarios of People Living with Dementia Who Go Missing: An Education Tool to Manage Risks
Ten narrative scenarios were developed from 515 MedicAlert notes, 1,760 police and SAR cases, and two families’ experiences. They illustrate varied missing incidents, response contexts and post-incident risk reduction while preserving individual personhood.
Authors: Vanessa Vahedi, Christine Daum, Emily Rutledge, Adebusola Adekoya, Antonio Miguel Cruz and Lili Liu
Published: 9 July 2026
Original: Canadian Journal on Aging and scenario booklet
Operational importance: The cases challenge an undifferentiated “dementia subject” profile. They include people becoming disoriented while walking, driving, cycling, using public transport or undertaking outdoor activities. Useful information extends beyond diagnosis to:
Routine, interests and intended activity.
Transport capability and previous journeys.
Emotional state and immediate trigger.
Familiar destinations and social connections.
Undiagnosed cognitive change.
Previous incidents and subsequent risk controls.
The underlying material included 1,555 police reports and 205 SAR records.
Transferability: Applicable internationally with adaptation for local services, transport, alerting systems and terminology.
Limitations: The scenarios are composite educational narratives, not predictive behavioural profiles. Usability feedback involved only five participants, and the effect on knowledge, decision-making or outcomes has not been evaluated. Canadian datasets and MedicAlert subscribers may not represent all populations or circumstances.
Training sections: Subject assessment; behavioural and spatial profiling; scenario development; family interviewing; search urgency; instructor-led exercises.
Training decision — Add: Use selected cases as scenario exercises requiring learners to identify person-specific information rather than relying on diagnosis alone.