The Safe & Found program was created to help bring them home. More than half of Australia’s Aged Care residents are reported to have moderate to severe cognitive impairment and WA Police report that up to a third of missing person searches for people living with dementia are from aged care facilities.

Each year police and emergency services spend significant time and resources conducting searches for individuals who have wandered away. Despite their best efforts these situations sometimes lead to tragic outcomes. Planning ahead is vital.
Safe & Found was developed by MedicAlert and the Western Australia Police, to enhance the safety and well-being of vulnerable people living with conditions such as dementia and autism. The program ensures Police can gain immediate access to information and initiate the search, across all of their channels, within minutes instead of hours. The program works with families and caregivers to collect and securely store detailed information about individuals at risk of wandering, including physical characteristics, behavioural patterns, health conditions and emergency contacts.
For a missing person living with dementia who goes missing, we know the risks are high, with a one in four fatality rate after 24 hours. WA is the world’s largest single police jurisdiction, covering 2.5 million square kilometres. The vast expanse of the state combined with harsh terrain and extreme weather makes it crucial that Police have a clear understanding of the person they are searching for.
Safe & Found gives peace of mind to loved ones and carers of people at risk of going missing that vital information is securely stored for Police to access immediately in a search without causing delays and distress. Membership includes a personalised Safe & Found ID bracelet engraved with emergency contact details, designed to quickly identify individuals who appear disoriented or confused.

“I knew Safe & Found would work, the results we have achieved to date have far exceeded any of my expectations. Safe & Found assists Police and the West Australian community with each search, by using the members profile details to successfully predict the member’s behaviour or destination, the sharing of the member’s image with the wider community resulting in their rescue, or the member being identified via their Safe & Found ID bracelet.” – Inspector Steve Scott of the Western Australian Police Force, Founder of the Safe & Found initiative.
Safe & Found has multiple funding options, including NDIS and DVA rebates available. Don’t wait, plan ahead and visit www.safeandfound.org.au or phone MedicAlert on 1800 88 22 22.