Originally Safe Return was a joint initiative of Alzheimer’s Australia SA and the South Australian Police to locate and return to their homes people suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and other related dementias who wandered and became confused. The program proved so successful that, after many requests from several other sources and organisations, it has now been re-badged as a stand alone program called Safe Return, and expanded to cater to a wider cross section of adults and young people in the community, to include people suffering from autism, intellectual disabilities and various other physical and mental conditions that cause people to become either lost or confused.
Safe Return offers peace of mind to anyone who cares for a person, who may wander away from home or a facility by providing rapid and accurate identification.
The Safe Return Bracelet
The Safe Return Bracelet is a stainless steel bracelet with a secure safety clasp, designed to be worn at all times by the person with dementia. The Safe Return emblem appears on the front; on the back, each bracelet has a personalised number, together with the SA Police emergency phone number.
The Safe Return Database
The Safe Return Database is part of the SA Police database and is accessible by police 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It contains confidential details on the person with dementia, including a current physical description, information on previous places of residence and other locations the person may visit, and contact details for up to three carers.
How does it work?
If someone finds a person who is confused and lost, who perhaps cannot recall how to get home, or where home is, they should look for the Safe Return bracelet and ring the police number on the back and quote the Safe Return personalised number. Police will respond to the call and arrange for the person with dementia to be safely returned to their home.
Carers can also use Safe Return to start a search for a person who is missing. As soon as it is realised that a person has wandered, carers can call the SA Police and quote the Safe Return number for that person. Police personnel will give guidance on search ideas near to home, , using information from the confidential database.
Safe Return can be used by carers in home situations as well as by health professionals caring for people in aged care facilities. Alzheimer's Australia SA is able provide follow up support, including strategies which may help to prevent future wandering for people specifically with dementia.
Safe Return Brochure
PDF file, 200 KB, 2006
Contact Us
Alzheimer's Australia SA is the peak body representing the interests of people affected by dementia in South Australia. To find out more, contact us or call the National Dementia Helpline on 1800 100 500.
created: 3 March 2006
updated: 17 January 2007
