There are programs that can help you if your loved one wanders off, including a new one that some counties are looking into.

Right now, the Alzheimer's Association of Eau Claire uses the Safe Return Program. A person wears a stainless steel bracelet with their name and medical information. The program also has a picture ready to send to the police if they're reported missing.

A new program St. Croix and Pierce Counties are raising money for is called Project Lifesaver. That project uses radio transmitters to track people within a mile of their home, no matter the terrain.

"It can happen so quickly. You can go to the laundry room and you can come out and they'll be gone. It's impossible to know what happened with the two people recently. The best idea is to be forewarned through a system that would alert somebody that they're going," says Karren Gunderlach with the Alzheimer's Association of Eau Claire.

Project Lifesaver requires $20,000 to get up and running. It's something Gunderlach says Eau Claire wants to start raising money for.

Another option might be a GPS tracker, but they are expensive. One retailer says they cost about 10 dollars a day and are cell phone based.