Emergency Card for Dementia & Alzheimer's Patients — Free Template
A dementia emergency card serves three roles at once: it identifies the person if they wander or become disoriented, lists medications and conditions for paramedics, and gives the caregiver's phone number so the right person is contacted quickly. The card should make it obvious to a stranger that the person has dementia and may not be able to communicate clearly.
Include a clear "I have dementia / Alzheimer's" statement, the person's home address, the primary caregiver's contact, current medications, and any allergies. Print multiple copies — wallet, jacket pocket, purse, fridge, and car.
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What to put on a dementia emergency card
- •"I have dementia / Alzheimer's" statement — Bold and at the top of the card. This signals strangers, police, and EMTs that the person may behave unusually but is not intoxicated or aggressive.
- •Full legal name and date of birth — For ID matching with medical records and missing-person reports.
- •Home address — Critical if the person wanders or becomes lost. Police can return them home directly.
- •Primary caregiver contact — Name, relationship, and phone number — ideally someone reachable 24/7.
- •Backup contact — Second family member, neighbor, or care facility if the primary caregiver is unreachable.
- •Current medications and dosages — Include any cognitive enhancers (donepezil, memantine), anti-anxiety medications, and other prescriptions exactly as labeled.
- •Other medical conditions — Many dementia patients also have heart disease, diabetes, or take blood thinners — all change emergency treatment.
- •Communication tips — A short note like "Speak slowly, use short sentences, repeat questions calmly" can change the entire interaction with a first responder.
Why a dementia emergency card matters
Roughly six in ten people with Alzheimer's will wander at some point, according to the Alzheimer's Association. A wandering episode that ends safely usually involves a stranger or police officer recognizing that something is wrong and finding a way to contact family. A wallet-sized card with the person's name, address, and caregiver's phone number is exactly that mechanism — and it works without an app, a battery, or a phone signal.
In ER visits, dementia complicates almost every standard intake question. A patient who can't reliably state their medications or allergies is at higher risk of dangerous drug interactions. A printed card next to the person's ID gives ER staff the baseline they need before contacting the caregiver.
For caregivers, the card also helps with day-to-day situations that aren't emergencies: a confused moment at a shop, an unexpected fall on a walk, a friendly passerby asking if everything is okay. Putting the information on paper means the caregiver doesn't need to be present at every moment.
In an emergency, call your local emergency number first — 911 (US/Canada), 999 (UK), 1122 (Pakistan), 112 (EU). This card is a supplement, not a substitute, for medical care.
Related guides
Emergency Cards for Dementia & Alzheimer's Patients (Caregiver Guide)
Detailed caregiver guide on what to include, how to laminate and place cards, and pairing the card with bracelets or GPS.
Why Every Senior Needs an Emergency Info Card
Why a $0 paper card beats apps and bracelets in real emergencies — especially for seniors living alone.
What to Put on a Medical ID Card: 12-Item Checklist
The general checklist of medical info that belongs on every wallet or fridge emergency card.
ICE Card vs Medical Alert Bracelet vs Phone ID
Comparison of physical card, medical alert jewelry, and phone-based Medical ID for dementia patients.
Sources
We cite primary, authoritative sources. Read our editorial standards for how we research and verify information.
- Alzheimer's Association — Wandering and Alzheimer's — caregiver safety
- U.S. National Institute on Aging — Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — Alzheimer's Disease and Healthy Aging
- NHS — Living with dementia — staying safe
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