People with Alzheimer’s disease sometimes lose the ability to recognize familiar places, to communicate or to remember their own name or address. They may leave home, become confused and get lost. This can be dangerous for people with the disease and worrisome for caregivers. But there is help.

Safely Home™ is a nationwide program designed to help find the person who is lost and assist in a safe return home. Developed by the Alzheimer Society of Canada in partnership with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, a registry stores vital information confidentially on a police database. The information can be accessed by police anywhere in Canada and the United States.

How does Safely Home work?

When a registrant goes missing… the caregiver calls the local police. Accessing the computer database, the police will find pertinent information about the registrant including personal history, physical characteristics and locations where the person is known to visit. It is important for caregivers to keep an up-to-date photo of the registrant on hand.

When a registrant is found… the police use the identification number from the person’s ID bracelet to search the computer database. They determine where the person lives and who to contact, and ensure that the person is returned Safely Home.

How do I register?

Registration is voluntary. Simply contact the Alzheimer Society. For a one-time fee of $35, the registrant will receive an identification bracelet and identification cards.

Wearing the bracelet and keeping the cards in places such as wallets and coat pockets aid in quickly identifying people should they become lost.

Apply to the Safely Home -- Alzheimer Wandering Registry by mailing the Registration Form to the Alzheimer Society of Toronto or by calling (416) 322-6560.

The front of the bracelet reads:
Urgent
See Other Side
The back of the bracelet shows the ID number and person’s first name and reads:
Memory Loss
Call Police

When you register, you will also receive a handbook with helpful information including:

• how to identify people who are at risk of leaving home and becoming lost
• how to adapt the environment to prevent someone from leaving home and becoming lost
• procedures to follow should someone go missing

Downloads:

Safely Home brochure

Safely Home Registration form