State's Silver Alert Bill Could Enhance Local Searches

A piece of legislation making its way toward Gov. Deval Patrick's desk, if signed into law, would bring a Silver Alert program to the state, enabling reverse-911 systems and other notifications to be made rapidly when an adult with Alzheimer's disease, dementia or other memory impairment goes missing.

Passage of a Silver Alert bill would enhance the emergency response system already in place in Lexington for when an adult with memory issues is lost, said Charlotte Rodgers, director of the town's Human Services Dept.

"I think it's a great idea," she said. "It adds to the emergency response system we already have, and that can only be positive."

On July 22, the House passed the Silver Alert bill, and the Senate followed suit on July 28. An amendment added in the Senate sends the bill back to the House for a vote, before it can be enacted by the Senate and passed on to await the governor's signature.

Under a Silver Alert, police and rescue workers would be directed to where the missing person was last seen, and media notifications and a reverse-911 system would become routine when someone with a memory impairment is missing.

Law enforcement officials would also receive training on responding to such situations. The Silver Alert program is similar to that of the Amber Alert, which is activated when a child goes missing.

There have been a handful of instances in town in the last few years where elderly people with memory problems or dementia have wandered off, Rodgers said, and police made a reverse-911 call to neighbors in certain quadrants around where the person went missing from to be on the lookout.

Through the Silver Alert program, spreading the word more widely about a person gone missing, through the media and highway signs like when an Amber Alert is activated, could help locating the person quicker, Rodgers said.

"The earlier identification of someone who wandered, the better to figure it out," Rodgers said. "I think it's a win. It really gets the eyes of the community looking for someone."

Those who have gone missing in Lexington in recent years have wandered on foot, but for those who are driving and get disoriented, an alert program could be helpful as there is a wider distance the person could have covered in a car, Rodgers said.

The Human Services Dept. does work with police in the case of a missing elderly person, when needed, Rodgers said.

She also encourages families who have an member with Alzheimer's disease, dementia or memory loss to register with the Police Dept., so their photo and information is on file for use in the event that the person goes missing.

Rodgers said her department salso hares information with families on acquiring Safe Return bracelets for those with cognitive, memory or verbal issues. Registration for a bracelet includes entry of information in a national database, which can help aid a search when a wearer who goes missing. While there is a cost associated with such a program, some scholarships are available locally, Rodgers said.

More information on Lexington's Human Services Dept., including senior services, can be found on the department's website.