by Pam Ness
In California, we have gotten familiar with the concept of Amber Alerts. Our phones vibrate or chime with the message that a child or teenager has been abducted, including pertinent details of vehicle license plate numbers and car descriptions. In synchrony, the media plays a role in spreading the information, and electronic freeway signs flash the details to drivers.
So, what is a silver alert? It’s a lesser known program that is also coordinated by the California Highway Patrol (CHP) is the Silver Alert program. The goal of a Silver Alert is to inform the public that an elderly person, or an individual who may be cognitively impaired or developmentally disabled, has gone missing under unexplained or mysterious circumstances. Similar to an Amber Alert, photos and details about where the individual was last seen are sent out to the public and the media in order to help speed up the process of locating the individual and getting them to safety.
The Silver Alert program was promoted and passed through the Senate thanks to persistent advocacy from the Alzheimer’s Association. It was signed into law by Governor Brown, and took effect January 1, 2013.
This important program allows law enforcement officials to contact the CHP to trigger an alert. The CHP first verifies that the missing elderly individual meets criteria for being in danger due to health, age, physical or mental disability, weather conditions, or the environment. The CHP then sends out the alert to the public, the media, and other relevant agencies.
This valuable tool of last resort can provide a bit of reassurance to families who have a loved one suffering from dementia, Alzheimer’s Disease, brain injury, or developmental disability. Wandering is a scary reality that is a constant challenge to these caregivers. Alzheimer’s sufferers may not remember their name or address, and often become disoriented. Finding the missing person quickly is essential, as seniors may easily become dehydrated, miss dosages of essential medications, or sustain physical injury. Statistics tell us that the first 24 hours is a critical period in missing persons cases. Only 4% of dementia sufferers will find their way home unassisted, and if the other 96% are not found within 24 hours of disappearance, there is a 50% likelihood of death or serious physical injury.
While of course we all hope to never experience the panic of having our beloved senior wander off, knowing that a Silver Alert can quickly bring the community together to help bring a lost patient to safety is a comfort. If someone under your care wanders off, calling 911 is the first step in locating them.