Silver Alert: Safeguarding Seniors with Cognitive Impairments
According to the Alzheimer's Association, only two days need to pass for a missing senior's chances of survival to drop to 51%. By the third day, that percentage drops to 30%.
Seniors with dementia are more inclined to wander, in part because they're trying to find their way back home despite their confusion. The best thing you can do as a caregiver is make sure they're always attended to so they won't wander. If they do, you can rely on the silver alert system.
Here's what you should know about how the silver alert system works and its importance.
What is a Silver Alert System?
Silver Alerts function much like Amber Alerts, which are used for missing children. When a senior is reported as missing, the Silver Alert notifies people in the community.
In most cases, these people are missing due to cognitive impairments such as Alzheimer's disease or dementia. They may also qualify for a Silver Alert if there are other factors indicating this person is in peril.
How Missing Senior Alerts Work
The first step leading to a Silver Alert is a family or caregiver must report the missing person to the local police. They investigate the disappearance and determine the person's risk factors. The missing person's information is entered into the Florida Crime Information Center (FCIC) database.
Law enforcement will send the alert when they have made their decision. Information is disseminated through TV, social media, and more. The goal is to alert the community as quickly as possible.
A Silver Alert is especially useful in close-knit communities, such as assisted living.
The Importance of Silver Alerts In Elderly Safety Programs
Silver Alerts are a vital component of elderly safety programs. They offer several benefits to both individuals and communities. These alerts keep seniors safe and help prevent them from causing problems or accidents.
Rapid Response and Recovery
The longer a senior goes missing, the more likely they are to sustain some type of injury or become dehydrated. Silver Alerts facilitate a swift and organized search, maximizing the chances of a safe recovery. It's especially important if the senior has some kind of cognitive impairment, as they could wander into traffic or the woods.
Community Engagement
A missing senior could go anywhere as long as they have decent mobility. They may get there on foot, use public transportation, or even use their own vehicle. Public assistance is crucial, as a person with dementia may not turn up where you'd expect them to.
Silver Alerts notify everyone in your community of the missing person. That includes neighbors, business owners, and commuters. They are all notified to keep an eye out for this missing person.
It's especially helpful if people in the community know the person, as they'll know to notify authorities if they spot the individual somewhere. The senior with cognitive impairments is also more likely to stay close to someone they know as opposed to running off.
Reducing Law Enforcement Burden
Missing people require extensive search efforts, which are a drain on police resources. That means they have to either choose between their standard police duties or looking for this singular person.
Silver Alerts allow the community to assist in the search, freeing up law enforcement resources. In addition, relying on the community the senior lives in means you'll have a much more efficient search than police who lack information to work with.
Preventing Tragic Outcomes
Wandering seniors face many dangers, from traffic accidents to exposure to harsh weather conditions. Unfortunately, those with cognitive impairments may not have the capacity to find shelter or their way home.
A major benefit of Silver Alerts is reducing the risk of injuries or fatalities. The quicker a person is found, the better the chance that they'll be alive and well. The longer it takes, the less likely that outcome becomes.
Dementia Wandering Prevention Strategies
The best way to keep a senior with cognitive impairments safe is to use wandering prevention strategies. In most cases, they wander off because they're left alone for too long, or you take one eye off of them.
These are a few of the ways you can keep a senior safe and off the streets.
Home Safety Modifications
Cognitive impairment support begins at home. You may need to set boundaries if a senior is prone to wandering off alone.
Install alarms on doors and windows to alert caregivers when a senior tries to leave. You can also put locks on exit doors that require a special key or code.
Identification and Tracking Tools
You can't always be there to watch a person, so there may be chances they can slip away.
Encourage seniors to wear an ID bracelet with emergency contact information. If they get lost, police can easily identify where they live and give them a ride home.
GPS tracking devices are another way to locate a missing person quickly. Even something like a smartwatch has GPS functionality that you can track.
Routine and Supervision
Create a consistent daily routine to reduce confusion. Engage seniors in structured activities to minimize restlessness.
If you do need to bring them to an unfamiliar environment, ensure they are never left alone.
Community Awareness and Support
Enroll seniors in local Safe Return programs that help identify and return them if they wander. Inform neighbors, local businesses, and emergency responders about this person's condition. These people will serve as a lifeline if your loved one wanders, as they may recognize each other.
Look into other community safety initiatives that you see as beneficial to your senior loved one.
Alternatively, move them into an assisted living community where they gain access to quality amenities as well as professional caregivers.
Locate Missing Seniors More Easily
It's inevitable that you will lose track of a senior loved one with dementia at some point. They have a tendency to slip away the second you turn your back. Silver Alert is there when that happens, and it'll help make sure they return home safe and sound.
Allara Senior Living offers senior assisted living and memory care in Rancho Cucamonga, California. Our residents have access to a range of amenities including a salon and spa, a full-service bistro, a fitness center, and more. Reach out to schedule a visit.