Leung, Phuong;
Lye, Valerie;
Kwok, Hoi Tat;
Fong, Lawrence;
Orgeta, Vasiliki;
(2025)
Lived experiences of missing with dementia and pathways to care: a qualitative study of carers’ and professionals’ perspectives.
Age and Ageing
, 54
(10)
, Article afaf289. 10.1093/ageing/afaf289.
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Abstract
Background: People with dementia are at increased risk of going missing, which can lead to severe harm and distress. Despite the need for a better understanding of how to support people with dementia and their families affected, research in this area remains limited. This qualitative study explored lived experiences of families affected by missing incidents, and carers’ and professionals’ perspectives of how to improve care. // Methods: A multi-perspective, qualitative framework analysis approach was undertaken with purposive sampling. Topic guides were developed in consultation with carers and professionals. We conducted in-depth semi-structured interviews and a focus group with key stakeholders (n = 33), which included carers of people with dementia (n = 9), police officers (n = 6), healthcare professionals (n = 12) and researchers (n = 6). Data were interpreted using thematic analysis to identify key themes. Reflexivity was considered throughout the process. // Results: Five key themes were identified: (i) risk and protective factors of missing incidents, (ii) gaps in reporting and response pathways, (iii) the use of technology for preventing and responding to missing incidents, (iv) the role of communities in prevention of harm, and (v) the need for integration of services through multi-agency collaboration. // Conclusion: This study highlights key gaps on our national and global response to missing incidents in dementia. Understanding risk and protective factors and improving our public health response through multi-agency collaboration and clear care pathways, were considered key by stakeholders. Our findings offer actionable insights to inform future strategies and improve care for people with dementia who go missing.
| Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Title: | Lived experiences of missing with dementia and pathways to care: a qualitative study of carers’ and professionals’ perspectives |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| DOI: | 10.1093/ageing/afaf289 |
| Publisher version: | https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afaf289 |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | Copyright © The Author(s) 2025. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Geriatrics Society. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted reuse, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. |
| Keywords: | Missing incidents; dementia; carers; professionals; care pathways; qualitative research; older people |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences > Division of Psychiatry UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences > Division of Psychiatry > Mental Health of Older People |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10213170 |
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