REMAINING calm and reassuring someone that you’re there to help is key if you want to support someone who you fear might suffer from dementia and has wandered far from home.

Georgia Romeril of charity Missing People said: "People living with dementia may feel the urge to walk about, sometimes leaving home and struggling to find their way back.

“Due to their age and medical circumstances they may be at greater risk of coming to harm whilst they are away."

The reasons why someone with dementia walks about varies from person-to-person. For some, it’s to relieve pain, for others it’s a distraction and some may be trying to find their way back to a more familiar place.

Their condition means they may quickly become disoriented as they wander about.

The Alzheimer’s Society has five tips for those who think they have a dementia sufferer on their wanders.

First, get close enough to the person that they can hear you and make eye contact. Too close, however and you could make them uncomfortable.

Your body language should be relaxed and open.

Third, speak calmly and slowly. You need to take your time and explain yourself clearly.

Using short, simple sentences will help the other person understand what you are saying. Ask one question at a time.

Finally, rephrase a sentence or question if the other person doesn’t understand what you are saying to them. Simply repeating what you’ve said is more likely to confuse them.

Contact the police on 101 and try to wait with them in a café or other public place.