Needed Now: Silver Alert Support

Posted on | October 15, 2009 | 3 Comments

Posted by: Maribeth Bersani - ALFA Senior VP/Public Policy

Earlier this year Congressman Lloyd Doggett from Texas introduced the Silver Alert bill – it passed the House but not the Senate. The original Senate sponsor, Mel Martinez, recently resigned so we need a new champion in the Senate and we need this person quickly.

Currently, 5 million U.S. citizens have Alzheimer’s disease or related dementia. An unfortunate outcome of the disease is that a person may wander away and, because of the dementia, become confused and unable to return home. According to Andrew Carle, assistant professor at George Mason University, an estimated 185,000 individuals with dementia are involved in wandering incidents where they become lost. Some studies show that almost half (46%) of those lost individuals not found within 24 hours will die usually from dehydration, exposure, or injury.

Doggett’s Silver Alert bill is similar to the effective Amber Alert for missing children. If Doggett’s bill were to become law, states would have a mechanism for alerting all of us about a missing individual with dementia. Alzheimer’s is a cruel and debilitating disease. Caring for a loved one with dementia is a 24/7 responsibility. This bill, if passed, would go along way toward helping us care for loved ones with this disease.

ALFA is a strong supporter of this bill. Are you?

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