By: Guide to Retirement Living Staff

About Alzheimer’s Association Safe Return

The Alzheimer’s Association is working to help save lives through its Alzheimer’s Association Safe Return program. Alzheimer’s disease causes millions of Americans to lose their ability to recognize familiar places and faces. Six in 10 people with Alzheimer’s disease will wander. They may become disoriented and lost, even in their own neighborhood. Although common, this wandering behavior can be dangerous. If not found within 24 hours, up to half of those who wander risk serious injury or death. Wandering is among the biggest challenges caregivers face.

There is help

  • The Alzheimer’s Association Safe Return program assists in the safe return of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia who wander and become lost.
  • Safe Return is a nationwide identification and support program working at the community level. Assistance is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, whenever a person is lost or found. One call immediately activates the community support network to help reunite a lost person with Alzheimer’s disease with his or her caregivers. When an individual is missing, Safe Return faxes the enrolled person’s information and photo to local law enforcement. When a person is found, a citizen or law official calls the 800-number, and Safe Return notifies listed contacts. The local Alzheimer’s Association chapter provides support to the family during the incident.

Safe Return benefits

  • The Alzheimer’s Association 24-hour toll-free emergency incident and enrollment line. Personalized identification products.
  • Caregiver checklist, which provides useful tips when someone is missing.
  • Enrollment in a national information and photo database that includes emergency contact information to help reunite a lost person with his or her caregivers.
  • The Alzheimer’s Association 24/7 Nationwide Contact Center, which is available day and night, every day, for information and care consultation.?
  • Your Alzheimer’s Association local chapter, which provides information, referrals, and other services.
  • Education and training on wandering behavior for families, caregivers, and emergency responders.

This article was reprinted with permission from Guide to Retirement Living SourceBook, to access the original article and additional senior living resources in VA, MD, DC, DE, PA, NJ click here.