Due to the hazards of aging Alzheimer’s patients wandering off and becoming disoriented, several states have enacted Silver Alert programs, similar to Amber Alerts for children.

The states are Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Ohio, Texas and Virginia. Requirements vary slightly from state to state, but generally the person must be over 65, have a mental impairment, and their disappearance must represent a danger to their health and safety.

The process of issuing the alert is similar to that use for children; it often uses the same notification systems, including television, radio, national weather service bulletins, and/or illuminated highway message boards.

Category: Aging Mind · Mind