Imagine realising that someone you love has gone missing.

They may have walked out of the front door without you noticing. Perhaps they were looking for somewhere familiar: a childhood home, a former workplace, or a place they remember from decades ago.

You call their name. You check the garden, the street, the places they usually go. Then you call the police.

For a family living with dementia, this can be one of the most frightening moments imaginable.

And when someone vulnerable goes missing, every minute matters.

The hidden danger of going missing with dementia

More than 944,000 people are currently living with dementia in the UK, and an estimated 70% of people with dementia will wander or go missing at least once as their condition progresses.

Every year, more than 40,000 people living with dementia are reported missing for the first time.

Going missing can put someone with dementia at serious risk. They may become disoriented or unable to find their way home. They may not recognise familiar people or places. Cold weather, busy roads, water and other hazards can become particularly dangerous when someone is confused or frightened.

For their families, those first few minutes can feel like an eternity.

But another, less visible challenge is how much information police need before they can begin an effective search.

The "kitchen table delay"

When someone is reported missing, police need to know as much as possible about who they are and where they might go.

What do they look like? What are they wearing? Do they have any medical conditions? Where have they lived before? What places are important to them? Where might they head if they become confused? Is there anything that could make them frightened, or anything that might help calm them when they are found?

Traditionally, much of this information has had to be gathered from family members at a moment when they are understandably distressed.

That can create what we call the "kitchen table delay": precious time spent piecing together vital information when the priority should be getting search teams out looking.

And this is where the Herbert Protocol can make a crucial difference.

Turning panic into a plan

MedicAlert's free digital Herbert Protocol service is designed to make that information available when it matters most.

Families can create a detailed profile in advance, while their loved one is safe. It can include information such as:

• A recent photograph and physical description
• Medical conditions and other important health information
• Previous addresses and places of significance
• Regular routines and places they may be drawn to
• Details that could help officers identify them
• Information about how best to communicate with and reassure them

The information is securely stored, ready to be accessed when a crisis happens. Instead of trying to remember everything in the middle of a crisis, officers can receive a structured picture of the person they are looking for and begin their search with crucial information already to hand.

A lifeline that is free to families

MedicAlert currently supports more than 7,000 people with free Herbert Protocol profiles.

For families, there is no charge for this vital service. That is important to us because keeping a vulnerable loved one safe should not depend on whether a family can afford it.

But providing a secure, reliable digital service around the clock comes with a cost.

That's why, during World Alzheimer's Month, MedicAlert is launching a 14-day appeal to raise £10,000 to help maintain, secure and update the Herbert Protocol infrastructure and its integration with police forces across the UK.

As MedicAlert CEO Rob Burley explains:

“When a loved one with dementia goes missing, every single second feels like an eternity.”

He adds that dementia can distort a person's sense of reality, sometimes leading them towards places from their past and leaving them vulnerable to dangers such as cold weather and traffic.

“Our Herbert Protocol database takes the panic out of those missing minutes. In one quick step, we give police officers on the street a clear strategy, telling them who they are looking for, where to search, and how to safely calm the person when found.”

Help us keep this lifeline available

Winter can bring additional risks for anyone who becomes lost or disoriented outdoors. That is why this year's appeal is about more than maintaining a database. It is about making sure that, when a family needs help, the information that could bring their loved one home is ready.

A donation of £20 could help secure this lifeline for another vulnerable family.

And if you care for someone living with dementia or memory loss, you do not have to wait for an emergency to prepare.

You can register them for the free Herbert Protocol service today.

Because when someone goes missing, you should not have to spend precious minutes trying to remember what matters. The plan should already be there.

Donate to the Herbert Protocol