Families urged to join dementia lost person scheme

The scheme is to help police find people with dementia who go missing

Families with dementia sufferers are being urged to join a police scheme that will increase the chances of officers finding their loved ones if they went missing.

Worcestershire councillor Rick Deller, whose father has the brain disease, is calling for people to sign up for the Herbert Protocol to assist West Mercia Police and other agencies.

It would mean filling out a form that gives police vital details about a loved one with dementia. It includes their appearance, what medication they are taking and where they like to visit.

"A few years ago my dad went missing, and although it was for a couple of hours, it was awful and worrying," said Mr Deller from Wychavon District Council.

"If the worst could happen and a vulnerable adult you're caring for goes missing, you underestimate how stressful it is to try and remember things like what medication they are on.

Deller's father, Graham, started displaying symptoms in his 60s and is now cared for full-time.

'Be prepared'

"Unfortunately, he's deteriorated a little bit, and he now has to go into a home to get more care and support.

"He still has the ability to hug his grandchildren, although he doesn't always know who they are, but they know he loves them."

Sgt Cathy Atkinson from the force said she was proud of what Deller was doing to promote the scheme.

"Quite regularly, we have vulnerable people go missing, so we spend a lot of time liaising with families, going out to try and find them.

"The protocol helps us get all the information that we need to be able to locate them.

"By being prepared and completing the fall beforehand, it takes away that stress, so it allows us then to have a current picture so we know who we're looking for,

The Herbert Protocol forms are available at police stations and across Droitwich in the library, the Salvation Army, and Droitwich Heritage Centre.