More than 60 percent of people with Alzheimer’s disease will wander at some point. And if they’re not found within 24 hours, they have a 50 percent chance of dying or being seriously injured, according to the Coalition of Alzheimer’s Association Chapters in New York State.
These statistics explain why the group supports expansion of the state’s Missing and Exploited Children Clearinghouse to include missing adults. These would include dementia sufferers or others who were abducted or who are suicidal.
“This bill will provide a much-needed safety net for these most vulnerable individuals,” said Mary Ann Ragona, president of the state’s Alzheimer’s coalition.
The Missing and Exploited Children Clearinghouse is part of the state Division of Criminal Justice Services and oversees two major alert systems: the Amber alerts, which are activated in cases of recent and confirmed abductions, and the Missing Child/College Student alerts, which are activated in other types of serious situations.
Under the proposed legislation submitted by Gov. David Paterson, the same system used to disseminate missing child alerts to police agencies, broadcast networks and transit points would be deployed when adults who are considered high risk disappear.
The proposal would make New York the 11th state to enact what is often called a “Silver Alert” system.
“We have been seeking this for a couple of years,” said Marc Kaplan, director of communications for the Northeastern New York chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association.
John Caher, director of public information for the state Division of Criminal Justice Services, said it would be easy to include adults in the Missing and Exploited Children Clearinghouse: “We’ve got the infrastructure in place.”
Amber alerts are rare, issued only when an abduction has been confirmed. Last year, there were only three Amber alerts issued in New York.
According to the Clearinghouse’s annual report, in 2009 there were 19,512 children reported missing, a 4 percent drop from 2008. The vast majority — about 93 percent — were runaways.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, a progressive brain disorder that gradually destroys a person’s memory and ability to learn, reason and carry out daily activities.
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, when a person with dementia is reported missing, it is important to respond quickly.
Searchers should sweep the immediate vicinity because 94 percent of missing adults with dementia are found within 1.5 miles of where they disappeared.
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