Skip to content

Missing child or vulnerable family member

Emergency numbers differ by country. This page uses 911, the number for the United States and Canada. Many other countries use 112, 999, or another number. Find the number for your country.

Discovering that a child, teenager, or vulnerable senior with memory loss is missing requires immediate, organized action. There is no legal waiting period to report a missing person to law enforcement.

Do this now

  1. Search the immediate home thoroughly: Search closets, under beds, inside laundry hampers, inside parked vehicles, backyards, sheds, and swimming pools. Check high-risk water hazards (pools, ponds, storm drains) first.
  2. Call 911 immediately: Inform the dispatcher if the missing person is a child, an elderly person with Alzheimer's or dementia, or someone with medical needs. Request an immediate Amber Alert (for abducted children) or Silver Alert / Endangered Missing Advisory (for seniors).
  3. Gather key details for police: Provide a recent high-resolution photo, exact height, weight, hair color, eye color, clothing worn when last seen, and any medical conditions or medications needed.
  4. Designate one person to stay at home: Keep one family member at the home or last known location to answer phone calls and greet responding police officers.
  5. Check recent digital activity: For missing teenagers or adults, check recent messaging apps, location sharing apps (Find My / Google Location), and browser history for travel plans.

Special instructions for Alzheimer's and dementia wandering

  • Six out of ten people with dementia wander: Most wandering individuals are found within 2.5 km (1.5 miles) of their home or last known location.
  • Search nearby brush and treelines: Confused individuals often walk straight in the direction of their dominant hand until blocked by dense vegetation, fences, or water.
  • Notify local search and rescue: Inform officers if the person is non-verbal, fears uniformed responders, or responds to specific names or music.

What not to do

  • Do not delay reporting: Do not wait 24 hours to contact police. Law enforcement prefers to begin searching immediately.
  • Do not touch or disturb the missing person's bedroom: Leave unwashed clothing, bedding, and personal items untouched so search dogs can use them for scent tracking.