Challenges and Opportunities in Searching for Missing Persons with Dementia: Insights from Specialized Police Officers.

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Getting lost can cause profound distress for individuals with dementia and their families, while also imposing a significant burden on society. Existing literature primarily focuses on the incidence and consequences of such cases, overlooking the challenges and issues involved in locating them. To address this gap, the present study aimed to explore the firsthand experiences and efforts of police officers in charge of missing cases. This study utilized a cross-sectional research design and conducted in-depth interviews with purposefully sampled police officers responsible for missing persons with dementia in South Korea. The qualitative information gathered from the interviews was analyzed using Content and Thematic Analysis. Despite various preventive programs and tracking technologies available, traditional methods such as foot searches remain more practical due to difficulties in utilizing such means by individuals with dementia. Additionally, their unpredictable characteristics and the lack of adequate and systematic societal support make even traditional searches challenging. Therefore, cooperation and awareness from caregivers and the community are crucial for police search and rescue operations. The study also highlights the importance of tailored response measures and legal support, as well as the need for collaborative efforts across societal domains for successful outcomes. The findings of this study are anticipated to contribute to a broader understanding of this pressing issue and provide critical insights for developing more effective response measures.