What to Do When an Elderly Person Goes Missing? A Guide to Dementia Wandering Prevention and Choosing GPS Tracking Devices

If an elderly person (especially one with dementia) goes missing, immediately report it to the nearest police station—the National Police Agency has established the "three no" principle: "no waiting" (no need to wait 24 hours), "no running around" (no restriction on household registration location), and "no cost." In 2025, among the 23,974 missing person reports accepted by the National Police Agency in Taiwan, 2,048 (8.54%) were dementia-related wandering, making it the second largest category after running away from home. Preventive measures such as applying for a free "Love Bracelet," fingerprinting, updating photos, and applying for GPS tracking device subsidies (if eligible) can reduce the risk of wandering and shorten search time.

How Common Is Elderly Wandering in Taiwan?

Wandering is not an isolated case but a category officially tracked long-term:

According to the government open data platform's "2025 Police Agency Missing Person Overview," the National Police Agency accepted 23,974 missing person reports in 2025, a decrease of 785 cases (-3.17%) from the previous year.
Among these, 2,048 cases (8.54%) were dementia-related wandering, making it the second largest category after running away from home (10,861 cases, 45.30%).
Past data from the National Police Agency also shows that among missing persons aged 65 and older, dementia-related wandering has long been the leading cause, one of the main causes of elderly missing cases (the exact proportion fluctuates slightly year by year; it is recommended to refer to the latest figures from the National Police Agency).

Daily Prevention: How to Prepare the National Police Agency's "Six Essentials"

The National Police Agency has compiled six preventive measures for elderly individuals with dementia or at high risk of wandering. The more thorough the preparation, the faster the search:

Update photos: Regularly take clear half-body and full-body photos to provide for identification in case of wandering.
Love Bracelet: A free identification bracelet engraved with a case number and a 24-hour search hotline. When found, the public or police can call the hotline with the case number to notify the family (eligibility is typically for individuals with dementia, intellectual disabilities, autism, or documented risk of wandering; details vary by city/county; contact the local Social Welfare Bureau or district office).
Fingerprinting: Pre-register fingerprints at a police station to speed up identity verification during searches.
Love cloth label: Sew identification cloth labels with name and contact number inside clothing.
GPS tracking: Apply for a tracking device with satellite positioning and emergency call button if eligible (see next section).
Neighborhood watch: Get to know local shops and neighbors to increase the chance of early discovery and reporting in case of wandering.

How to Choose a GPS Tracking Device? Types and Limitations Honestly Explained

Common tracking devices on the market generally fall into two categories, each with trade-offs. No single device can completely replace manual search:

True GPS/AGPS tracking devices (watch, necklace, card type): Can query real-time outdoor location and history. According to assistive device subsidy standards for persons with disabilities, eligible devices must have satellite positioning, location query, standby time of over 72 hours, and an emergency call button. Some watch models also allow two-way calling, while necklace models typically only provide location tracking without calling.
Indoor positioning is a common weakness: GPS signal accuracy significantly decreases when entering buildings or basements. "Hard to locate indoors" is a common practical limitation reported by users, not a device malfunction.
Battery life is another practical consideration: Continuous tracking models typically need to be charged daily or every 2-3 days, with higher power consumption in areas with weak signals. Family members need to establish a regular charging reminder habit.
The Love Bracelet itself is not GPS tracking (it does not actively report location) but relies on the finder or police to call the hotline on the bracelet. Both can be used simultaneously to complement each other; they are not mutually exclusive.

Do I Need Guardianship Authorization to Have an Elderly Person Wear a Tracking Device?

This is a concern for many families. Our findings are as follows:

There are no specific official regulations or interpretations regarding whether family members need guardianship or assistance declaration authorization to have an elderly person with dementia wear a tracking device. Current discussions on guardianship mainly focus on legal acts such as property disposal or signing contracts (see our "Guardianship" page). There is no specific official opinion on wearing wearable devices. We honestly state that there is currently no clear answer, rather than giving unverified claims.
The most relevant but different provision is Article 51 of the Personal Data Protection Act: Natural persons collecting personal data "for purely personal or household activities" are not subject to the notification and consent requirements of the Act. Family members tracking location for safety reasons typically fall under this category, but this is a general privacy law provision, not a specific regulation for GPS wearables or dementia.
Practical recommendation: Even if not legally required, explain the purpose to the elderly person as much as possible (even if just a simple explanation like "this is for safety") and reach a consensus with other family members to reduce potential disputes.

What to Do If an Elderly Person Actually Goes Missing?

The National Police Agency's "three no" principle is the most important concept when reporting:

No waiting: Report immediately without waiting 24 hours—according to Article 3 of the "Guidelines for Missing Person Searches," police agencies must immediately accept reports and cannot refuse or shirk responsibility.
No running around: Report to any nearby police station, not limited to the jurisdiction of the person's household registration or the location of the incident.
No cost: The search itself is free.
When reporting, prepare: Recent clear photos (front, side, full body), the case number if a Love Bracelet has been applied for, fingerprint registration if available to speed up identification, and detailed information on the last seen time, location, clothing, height, and physical features (specific recommendations from Taipei City Hospital's FAQ).
In addition to reporting to the police, also contact the city/county Missing Elderly Search Center or the Taiwan Alzheimer's Disease Association and other private search resources to conduct multiple channels simultaneously.

FAQ

Do I have to wait 24 hours to report an elderly person missing?

No. According to Article 3 of the Ministry of the Interior's "Guidelines for Missing Person Searches," police agencies must immediately accept missing person reports regardless of jurisdiction and cannot refuse or shirk responsibility. Dementia-related wandering is explicitly listed as a category eligible for emergency searches (Articles 2 and 6 of the same guidelines). The National Police Agency also promotes the "three no" principle (no waiting, no running around, no cost) to encourage the public to report to the nearest police station immediately, without waiting for the commonly misunderstood 24-hour period.

How common is dementia-related wandering in Taiwan?

According to the government open data platform's "2025 Police Agency Missing Person Overview," the National Police Agency accepted 23,974 missing person reports in 2025, of which 2,048 (8.54%) were dementia-related wandering, making it the second largest category after running away from home (45.30%). Among missing persons aged 65 and older, dementia-related wandering has long been one of the main causes, with the exact proportion fluctuating slightly year by year. It is recommended to refer to the latest figures published by the National Police Agency.

What is the "Love Bracelet"? How do I apply for it? Does it cost money?

The Love Bracelet is a free identification bracelet engraved with a case number and a 24-hour search hotline. When a person is found wandering, the public or police can call the hotline with the case number to notify the family. It is not a GPS tracking device and relies on manual discovery and reporting. Eligibility is typically for individuals with dementia, intellectual disabilities, autism, or documented risk of wandering. Applicants can apply with a disability handbook/certificate or a doctor's diagnosis to the Social Welfare Bureau of their household registration area, district office, or local Elderly Welfare Promotion Alliance office. Details vary by city/county, so it is recommended to contact the local Social Welfare Bureau for the latest regulations.

Does the government subsidize GPS tracking devices? How do I apply?

Yes. According to Item 91 "Locator" in the "Subsidy Standards for Assistive Devices for Persons with Disabilities," individuals with a disability certificate and eligible for wandering risk can apply for a subsidy (ranging from approximately NT$4,500 to NT$9,000 depending on income level, with amounts and additional programs varying by city/county; for example, Taipei City has a separate subsidy for dementia patients with higher amounts but requires a dementia diagnosis within the last 3 months). Note that this is through the "Assistive Device Subsidy for Persons with Disabilities" channel, not the Long-Term Care 2.0/3.0 subsidy program. For eligibility, it is recommended to contact the 1966 long-term care hotline or the local assistive device resource center.

Are there legal or privacy issues with having an elderly person wear a tracking bracelet?

Currently, there are no specific official regulations or interpretations regarding whether guardianship or assistance declaration authorization is required for wearing a tracking device. The most relevant provision is Article 51 of the Personal Data Protection Act, which states that natural persons collecting personal data for purely personal or household activities are not subject to the notification and consent requirements of the Act. Family members tracking an elderly person's location for safety reasons typically fall under this category, but this is a general privacy law provision, not a specific regulation for GPS wearables or dementia. It is recommended to explain the purpose to the elderly person as much as possible (even if their cognitive ability is limited) and reach a consensus with other family members to reduce potential disputes.

How accurate are GPS tracking devices? Are there any limitations?

GPS/AGPS positioning is usually accurate in open outdoor areas, but accuracy significantly decreases when entering buildings, basements, or areas with poor signal—this is a common practical limitation reported by users, not a device malfunction. Battery life is also a practical consideration; continuous tracking models typically need to be charged daily or every 2-3 days. Therefore, GPS tracking should be used in conjunction with manual search mechanisms like the Love Bracelet, fingerprinting, and neighborhood watch, rather than relying solely on a single device.

Updated: 2026-07-09 · This page is a neutral compilation of information for reference only, not medical, legal, tax, or admission advice. For actual regulations and services, please refer to official announcements from competent authorities and the institutions themselves.