Session Description

Persons with dementia go missing at 18 times the rate of those without a diagnosis, yet no standardized proactive wandering risk tool exists for Ontario's home and community support sector. This panel introduces an evidence-informed, eight-domain caregiver-focused framework developed through a research partnership between MedicAlert Foundation Canada and the University of Toronto Translational Research Program. 

The session will explore eight key domains that influence wandering risk and share practical draft tools that support proactive conversations with caregivers, strengthen safety planning, and help integrate risk assessment into existing intake and care planning processes. Participants will also hear perspectives from researchers, Canada’s National Wandering Registry through MedicAlert’s VP of Research, and a caregiver advocate who will share the lived experience of navigating wandering risk without proactive supports. 

Designed for executive directors, program managers, care coordinators, and frontline leaders across home and community support services, this session provides practical resources while inviting organizations to help shape the next phase of this important work. Participants will leave with draft implementation tools, practical strategies for integrating proactive safety planning into everyday practice, and opportunities to participate in future validation of the framework.