July 22, 2010 — Coordinates approach to find missing persons with Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia
BOSTON — State Representative Jen Benson today joined her colleagues in the Massachusetts House of Representatives in passing legislation to establish a Silver Alert program to assist in locating seniors with Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia who have gone missing.
"Establishing the Silver Alert Program will reassure families with relatives suffering from dementia and help police and other first responders more easily locate loved ones who have gone missing," said Benson.
The Silver Alert program would provide for a coordinated approach to locating an individual with dementia. The bill directs law enforcement and other key response resources to focus in a geographic area consistent with the missing person's last know location.
The legislation requires training for law enforcement and key responders. This training will be incorporated into emergency personnel training that is currently in practice.
Some 120,000 people in Massachusetts have Alzheimer's disease with the number expected to increase by 17 percent by the year 2025.
