Alzheimer's Association: 'Six in 10 people living with dementia will wander at least once'

FARGO — On Sunday, June 30, a silver alert was issued for 84-year-old Alpha “Al” Ault who went missing in Morton County. The man was safely located near Huff Hills.

“When somebody’s missing, we always utilize the same amount of resources. So an aircraft, a bloodhound who is trained to track people, a lot of law enforcement agencies, volunteer organizations,” said North Dakota Highway Patrol Sergeant Jenna Clawson Huibregtse.

Huibregtse says it doesn’t matter if you’re qualified or not to search. It matters when you pay attention to what the alert says.

“Look at the clothing description, what that person might be driving and be the eyes and ears for us out there,” Huibregtse said. “Because the public is across the whole state, and we are just, you know, in a few select areas as law enforcement officers.”

She says almost every missing person is found by a community member before police, especially in rural parts of North Dakota.

“We’re typically finding people within five or 10 minutes, somebody gets the alert on their phone and they’re right in the right place at the right time,” Huibregtse said.

If you’re that person who finds an elder that may be at risk of wandering, the Alzheimer’s Association urges you to approach them calmly, then call police.

“Just ask them, you know, ‘Are you doing OK? It looks to me that you may be lost. Can I help you?’ And then ask them their name, ask them where they’re coming from,” said Alzheimer’s Association North Dakota Program Director Joan Danks.

With that information, Danks says you’ll be to help keep that elder safe until police arrive.

“Six in 10 people living with dementia will wander at least once, and many people do so repeatedly,” Danks said. “So it’s very common, and it can also be very dangerous — even sometimes life threatening. And that stress of this risk really does weigh heavily on caregivers and family members.”

They say it’s never too late to report a missing person if you find them.

If you’re a caregiver or family member looking for help to reduce the risk of wandering, you can enroll into the

Alzheimer’s Association’s wandering response service online for free.

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