General emergency guidance — not a personal medical record.
If there is immediate danger, severe trouble breathing, unresponsiveness, a serious injury, or you are unsure whether the situation is life-threatening, call 911 now and follow the dispatcher’s instructions.
Dementia & Memory Loss
Approach calmly
- Introduce yourself, speak slowly, and use short, simple sentences.
- Reduce noise and the number of people speaking. Give extra time to respond.
- Do not argue about confused statements or suddenly grab or restrain the person unless needed to prevent immediate harm.
- Ask one question at a time and offer simple choices.
If the person appears lost
- Move away from traffic, water, heat, or other hazards when safe.
- Look for a CareID, medical bracelet, wallet card, or caregiver contact.
- If you cannot quickly identify a safe caregiver or destination, contact 911 and explain that the person may have dementia and may be lost.
Call 911 now if
- There is a sudden new change in awareness, speech, strength, walking, or behavior.
- The person is injured, unresponsive, has severe breathing trouble, or is in immediate danger.
Source: National Institute on Aging — wandering and getting lost.
Important
- Look for a medical ID, emergency card, phone Medical ID, or caregiver contact.
- Do not assume this page describes the person’s diagnosis, medicines, allergies, or personal care plan.
- Do not give medicine, food, or drink unless the person’s own plan or emergency professionals direct you and it is safe to do so.
- Stay with the person when it is safe, protect their privacy, and give responders the time symptoms began and what you observed.
CareID Alert provides general educational guidance only. It does not replace 911, professional medical advice, or a person-specific emergency plan.