Symptoms and suggestions

If a senior family member shows regular signs of forgetfulness, they should undertake medical tests as soon as possible to assess the likelihood of Alzheimer's disease or another form of dementia. If a diagnosis is confirmed, precautions should be taken immediately.

In the early stages of dementia, peoples' memories phase in and out, but the problem can easily be missed both by the patient and those around them. People with dementia often lose their bearings.

Be aware of abnormal lapses in timekeeping.

Keep an eye on the clock. Take action if a senior family member leaves the home, but fails to return at the regular time. In one case, a senior went for a walk in the morning and had not returned home by late afternoon. His family did not notice he was absent until sunset, so when they started to search, he had been off the radar for almost a full day. Thankfully, he was found unharmed.

Call the police immediately.

If you think a senior family member may be lost, contact the nearest police station. The police will issue a "missing persons" notice within its internal messaging system, alerting officers to keep an eye out for the missing senior.

In many cases, relatives fail to make the first move in time, especially those without prior experience of the problem. Many believe that the lost senior will somehow find their way back home, often until it is too late.

After reporting the matter to the police, examine surveillance videos from the area where the lost senior was last seen. Try to work out which direction they took.

Surveillance cameras fall into three general categories - those for public security, those for communities and private CCTV. The first two are installed by the government and can be accessed with the help of the local police and neighborhood committees. Private CCTV cameras are usually installed by storeowners, most of whom are usually willing to help in searches for missing persons.

Get the word out, both on and offline.

Online: Post information about the missing person on internet platforms such as WeChat, Weibo and the Toutiao Alert for Missing Persons.

Offline: Hand out printed information sheets and post notices around the area where they were last spotted.

The notice should specify the lost person's appearance, such as the color and design of the clothes they were wearing on the day they disappeared, in addition to at least one recent photo. If possible, clearly state the amount you are willing to give as a reward for information leading to the person's discovery - that always grabs people's attention.

Contact local relief stations, government-backed shelters for the lost and the needy, if a senior is missing for more than 48 hours.

Charge all location devices, such as GPS, regularly.

Take photos of the seniors occasionally, so a recent photo will be available if required.

Source: The Beijing Zhiyuan Emergency Service Center