By Lookout Staff

Update: Irene Averyanova was located Monday and is safe.

July 20, 2026 -- Santa Monica police are seeking the public's help finding a 93-year-old woman with dementia who was last seen in the Downtown.

Irene Averyanova, described as a White female of Russian descent, was last seen near the 1500 block of 6th Street, police said in an advisory posted on social media late Sunday morning.

 

Averyanova "has been diagnosed with dementia and may be disoriented or in need of assistance," police said.

Anyone who sees Irene or has information about her whereabouts should call 9-1-1 immediately and provide their location, as well as Irene's "direction of travel, clothing description if observed, and any other relevant details to dispatch."

Law enforcement agencies nationwide are increasingly reporting seniors who have gone missing, a trend attributed to an aging population.

According to the Alzheimer's Association, 6 in 10 people living with dementia will wander at least once, and many do so repeatedly.

"Alzheimer’s disease causes people to lose their ability to recognize familiar places and faces," the Association's website states.

"It’s common for a person living with dementia to wander or become lost or confused about their location, and it can happen at any stage of the disease."

There are a number of circumstances that can lead a person living with dementia to go missing, according to a study of cases in Canada, Scotland and the U.S.

"People living with dementia may go missing while engaged in routine activities with limited supervision," according to the study published in the Canadian Journal of Nursing Research.

They can also "become separated from care partners during outings, or leave home independently to complete familiar tasks."

For additional information, contact SMPD at 310-458-8491.