Coquitlam Search and Rescue (SAR) members were instrumental in helping searchers in Maple Ridge find a missing elderly woman Wednesday morning.

The 77-year-old Maple Ridge woman, who has mild dementia, had wandered away from her home Tuesday night, and Ridge Meadows Search and Rescue had searched for her the entire night, with no success.

Around 4 a.m. Wednesday, they called Coquitlam SAR to help with a secondary search.

The local SAR sent seven members - five senior members and two who are in training.

"This is standard operational procedure during a search. The first sweep was done at night and the subject may not be responsive, so you always follow up with a second, more intensive search. In this instance it was a smart move for Ridge Meadows because it resulted in finding the subject."

The woman was found within 200 metres of her home, about five metres from the edge of a road.

According to Coquitlam SAR member in training Darren Timmer, during the secondary sweep he was part of a team of four searchers and saw the woman sitting on a rock on the other side of a creek.

It appeared that she had fallen, he said, and she was cold and not very responsive.

"It was impossible to see her from the road, even in the daytime," Timmer said.

"This was the first time I have found someone since joining Coquitlam Search and Rescue, and it was great to be a part of the team that was able to bring this search to a successful conclusion."

Timmer is one of 10 new members who are five months into a year-long training program.

The program includes provincial ground SAR training, supplemented by training in areas such as first aid, rope, swift water and avalanche rescue and work around helicopters.

The new members are encouraged to participate in actual searches, while partnered with seasoned members of Coquitlam SAR.

"This format has been very effective in the past," Hurley said. "By the completion of their training these members in training will really know their stuff, and today they demonstrated they are well on their way."