Missing Waltham Woman Found: Police

WALTHAM, MA — Thanks to help from the public, a 74-year-old Waltham woman experiencing signs of early dementia was found shortly after police issued a community alert asking for the public's help to locate her.

Police issued the alert shortly after midnight, saying she hadn't been seen since 8:30 p.m. Wednesday. Then, early Thursday, they were able to find her. Police took to Facebook to report she was found, safe.

So far this year, the Waltham Police Department has helped find people believed to have gone missing, according to police data.

"Each missing person/wanderer case is different," said Det. Sgt Tim King. "We have had people go visit relatives they haven’t seen in years, we have had some travel to New York City. We have had some waiting outside for the school bus that they took in elementary school. Others have no idea where they are going. There really is no set pattern established when it comes to people who have wandered."

Often police are asked to search for teens who have run away from institutions, but they're also often asked to find people living with dementia who have become confused about where they are.

People diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease can lose their ability to recognize familiar places and faces, and it's common for someone diagnosed with either to become lost, according to the Alzheimer's foundation.

"Although common, wandering can be dangerous — even life-threatening — and the stress of this risk weighs heavily on caregivers and family," according to the foundation.