In the run up to publication of my new book Carers and Caring; the One Stop Guide; how to care for older relatives and friends  this A to Z shares some of the practical solutions learned from research and experience.

 What is the Herbert Protocol?

This is a national scheme encouraging carers to provide helpful information to the police which can be used if a vulnerable person goes missing. It is often used when people are living with dementia. It is useful even if you have gone to the trouble of buying or renting a locator device, because sometimes people have left their locator device at home when they go missing. You don’t know where they are and that’s the definition of missing or what is sometimes called “wandering” when the person has memory problems. The protocol may be part of your emergency plan. You must register for the scheme, but it has great advantages for reducing your stress and saving police time if it gets to the point of searching for someone. The longer you wait before calling for help, the further the lost person will have gone, and the chance of finding them happy and well has diminished. 

If you Google ‘The Herbert Protocol’ you will find out if the scheme has been introduced by your own police force, for example Police Scotland, West Yorkshire Police, Derbyshire Constabulary, etc. All the information is there. It will ask you to fill out a form to capture what is useful.

There is much more about the Herbert Protocol and finding lost people in  Carers and Caring: The One-Stop Guide: How to care for older relatives and friends - with tips for managing finances and accessing the right support  available from all good bookshops in May 2022

Three hints:

1.     Have an emergency plan

2.     The first time somebody becomes lost, join the national scheme

3.     Don’t hesitate to call for help