Yesterday, Governor Jay Inslee passed the Silver Alert Law for the state of Washington. This will allow police to issue a public alert for missing seniors, similarly to the Amber Alerts issued for missing children.
Seniors with Alzheimerās disease, dementia, or other cognitive impairment, can easily get confused and disoriented even in familiar surroundings. They may not realize that they are lost, therefore are unlikely to ask for help.
According to an article in The New York Times, āAbout 6 in 10 dementia victims will wander at least once, health care statistics show, and the numbers are growing worldwide, fueled primarily by Alzheimerās disease, which has no cure and affects about half of all people over 85.ā
The Alzheimers Association reports that roughly 50% of seniorsĀ not found within 24 hoursĀ can sufferĀ serious injury orĀ evenĀ death. During the summer and winter months, when temperatures get into extremes, finding people quickly is even more imperative.
Lisa Doyle, RN with CayCare, spoke with Kiro 7 Eyewitness News about the new law. You can view that video here.
Police will be able to use the reader boards on major highways, as well as a reverse 911 in targeted areas, in order to alert the community to missing seniors. The silver alert is already being used in some other states.