'Silver Alert' Could Save Wandering Dementia Sufferers
By: State: Tennessee | Source: AARP.org
Minutes matter when someone with dementia is lost. That's why AARP Tennessee is working with lawmakers and state officials who are considering a "Silver Alert" early warning system for adults with Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia.
Similar to the Amber Alert system now operational in all 50 states that immediately notifies law enforcement and other agencies when a child goes missing, a "Silver Alert" system is designed to help locate an adult who has wandered away from home or a care facility.
AARP Tennessee has been outspoken in support of the concept and was recognized publicly for its work during a recent legislative hearing by one sponsor of "Silver Alert" legislation, Sen. Diane Black, a Gallatin Republican, nurse and founder of a local Alzheimer's support group.
AARP Tennessee State Director Rebecca Kelly wrote a column published in the capitol city newspaper, The Tennessean, on the importance of instituting a Silver Alert system that "could make the difference between a happy ending and a tragedy".
Research shows that six in 10 people with Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia will wander at some point, and only 4 percent of those who leave home can find their way back. If they aren't found within 24 hours, the risk of serious injury or death increases exponentially.
In other states, "Silver Alerts" are modeled on the "Amber Alert" program for abducted or missing children. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation says its Amber Alert system has one of the highest recovery rates in the nation. Let's make Tennessee a model for its "Silver Alert" system as well.
Contact your lawmakers to express your support of the "Silver Alert" concept: legislature.state.tn.us.
Sponsors of "Silver Alert" legislation include Black and Rep. Joey Hensley, R-Hohenwald; House Speaker Pro Tempore Lois DeBerry and Sen. Beverly Marrero, both D-Memphis; Sen. Randy McNally, R-Oak Ridge, and Rep. Jim Hackworth, D-Clinton; Sen. Joe Haynes, D-Goodlettsville, and Rep. Mike McDonald, D-Portland.
Other Resources
Column by AARP Tennessee Director Rebecca Kelly in The Tennessean
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