Building a Wandering Safety Plan in PA and MD

Wandering (sometimes called elopement) is one of the most frightening safety concerns families face. Nearly 49% of children with autism wander at some point, and the risk extends to many adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities as well. A single technology or a single lock is rarely enough. The most effective approach layers multiple strategies together: securing the environment, tracking location, alerting the community, and having an emergency plan ready to go. This guide walks through each layer and shows you how to build a plan that fits your family, your home, and your state.

Layer 1: Know the pattern

Before choosing any technology or making changes to your home, spend a week or two observing and writing down when, where, and why wandering happens. The answers shape everything else.

• When does it happen? Early morning before others wake up? During transitions between activities? At night? After a stressful event?
• Where does the person go?Toward water (pools, creeks, ponds)? Toward a favorite store or park? Into traffic? Just “away” with no clear destination?
• What seems to trigger it? Sensory overload? Boredom? A loud noise? A change in routine? Sometimes the trigger is simply that a door was left unlocked.
• How does the person respond when found? Do they come willingly? Do they run? Do they recognize danger? This affects how you plan the response.

These observations become the foundation of your safety plan. A child who bolts toward water needs different protections than an adult who quietly leaves the house at 3 a.m.

Layer 2: Secure the environment

The goal here is not to create a locked-down space. It is to add layers of awareness so you know when someone is on the move and have time to respond. Start with the exits your person uses most.

Door and window sensors

A simple contact sensor on exterior doors sends an alert to your phone the moment a door opens. Ring Door/Window Contact Sensors are affordable and work with most smart home setups. Standalone door alarms (the kind that beep loudly when the door opens) are even simpler and don't require WiFi or an app.

Place sensors on every exterior door, including garage doors and sliding glass doors. If windows are accessible and have been used as exits, add sensors there too.

Bed exit sensors

For nighttime wandering, a bed sensor alerts you when the person gets out of bed. SafeWander is a motion-sensing clip that attaches to clothing or a blanket and sends a notification to a caregiver's phone when the person sits up or stands. No wires, no pressure pads to shift out of place.

Pool and water safety

Water is the number one danger for wanderers. Drowning accounts for the majority of wandering-related deaths in people with autism. If you have a pool, pond, or live near any body of water, this layer is critical.

• Pool alarms: Lifebuoy Pool Alarm detects when someone enters the water and sounds an alarm inside the house. It works in pools, hot tubs, and ponds.
• Pool fencing: A four-sided fence with a self-closing, self-latching gate is the single most effective pool safety measure. Many states require it by code. Add a sensor to the gate for an extra alert.
• Door locks on pool-facing exits: Deadbolts mounted high (out of reach) or keyed locks on sliding doors that lead to pool areas add another barrier.

Stove and appliance safety

Wandering at night sometimes includes the kitchen. FireAvert Stove Auto Shutoff devices cut power to the stove when the smoke alarm goes off. They install in minutes and require no wiring changes.

Layer 3: Track and locate

When someone does leave the home, you need to find them fast. GPS trackers designed for people with IDD are the most reliable option. Each has different strengths depending on your situation.

Which one fits?If the person removes things from their body or pockets, AngelSense's non-removable attachment (using a magnetic “parent key”) is the safest choice. If sensory sensitivity is the main barrier, the tiny Jiobit clips onto clothing without being noticed. If budget is tight and the person carries a backpack or bag, an AirTag tucked inside provides basic location (though it updates less frequently and relies on nearby Apple devices to work).

For a deeper comparison of GPS trackers, including wearing tips and compliance strategies, see our complete GPS tracker guide.

Layer 4: Alert the community

Technology helps you find someone. But when every minute counts, having trained searchers and pre-shared information can save a life. Several programs exist in PA and MD specifically for this.

Project Lifesaver

Project Lifesaver equips at-risk individuals with a small radio transmitter worn on the wrist or ankle. When the person goes missing, trained law enforcement use specialized receivers to track the signal. Average rescue time: 30 minutes (compared to hours or days with traditional search methods).

• Pennsylvania:Multiple county sheriff departments participate, including Montgomery, Chester, and Bucks counties. Contact your local sheriff's office to ask about enrollment.
• Maryland: County-level programs operate through local law enforcement. Baltimore County, Howard County, and Anne Arundel County are among those with active programs.

Enrollment is typically free or very low cost. The transmitter battery is replaced regularly by a local officer who visits your home, which also builds a relationship with first responders who may need to search for your family member.

Smart911

Smart911 lets you create a free Safety Profile that dispatchers see automatically when you call 911 from a registered phone. Your profile can include a recent photo, physical description, communication needs, triggers, likely destinations, and medical information. When seconds count, this means responders already know who they are looking for.

Smart911 is available statewide in Maryland. In Pennsylvania, coverage varies by county (Montgomery County and several others participate). Sign up at smart911.com. It takes about 10 minutes and could make all the difference in an emergency.

Take Me Home Program

Montgomery County, PA runs the Take Me Home Program through its police department. Families register a person's photo, physical description, and behavioral information in a secure database. If the person is found wandering, officers can quickly identify them and contact the family. Registration is free. Contact the Montgomery County Police at 610-278-3368 for details.

MedicAlert + Alzheimer's Association Safe Return

This 24/7 wandering response program works nationwide. The person wears a MedicAlert ID (bracelet or necklace) engraved with their condition and a toll-free number. If found by anyone, that person calls the number and MedicAlert contacts the family. The program also provides a dedicated toll-free number for caregivers to report a wandering incident and activate a community alert. Annual enrollment starts around $50.

Medical ID bracelets

Even without MedicAlert enrollment, a simple medical ID bracelet communicates critical information when the person cannot. Road ID makes durable, customizable medical IDs for adults and a version for children. Engrave it with the person's name, emergency contact number, and any essential medical information.

Layer 5: Build an emergency kit

If your person wanders and you need to call for help, you will be stressed and moving fast. Having a kit ready means you are not scrambling for information in a crisis.

Keep a printed copy of this information in a folder by the front door and a digital copy on your phone. Share it with anyone who spends time with the person: respite workers, teachers, day program staff, neighbors.

Putting it all together

A wandering safety plan does not need to be complicated. It needs to be written down, shared with everyone involved, and practiced. Here is a simple template:

Share this plan with every caregiver, teacher, and support worker. Post a simplified version (with photo and key instructions) near the front door. Review it every six months and update the photo, weight, and any changes to the person's wandering patterns.

How to pay for it

Many of the items in a wandering safety plan are covered through existing funding sources. Some are completely free.

Free resources

• Big Red Safety Box: The National Autism Association provides free Big Red Safety Boxes to families of individuals with autism who wander. Each box includes visual stop signs, a social story about safety, a door alarm, safety alert window clings, a shoe ID tag, a safety alert rubber bracelet, and a personalized laminated ID card. Apply at nationalautismassociation.org.
• Smart911: Free to create a profile at smart911.com.
• Project Lifesaver:Typically free or subsidized through your county sheriff's office.

Waiver funding

GPS trackers, door sensors, bed sensors, and pool alarms can all qualify as assistive technology under Medicaid IDD waivers:

• Pennsylvania: The Consolidated Waiver covers up to $3,000/year for AT. The Person/Family Directed Support Waiver has the same cap. Talk to your Supports Coordinator about adding safety devices to your ISP. Full PA funding guide
• Maryland: The Community Pathways Waiver covers up to $12,000/year for AT. Items under $1,000 do not require a formal AT assessment, which covers most safety devices on this page. Full MD funding guide

Other options

• Device lending: Not sure which tracker or sensor to buy? TechOWL (PA) and MDTAP (MD) let you borrow devices for free before committing.
• Low-interest loans:Pennsylvania's PATF offers loans from $100 to $2,000 at 0% interest for AT purchases. Maryland's MDTAP has a loan program for purchases up to $10,000 at below-market rates.
• School funding: For children age 3 to 21 with an IEP, schools must provide AT needed for education at no cost. If wandering affects school safety, a GPS tracker may be written into the IEP.