Senior Home Safety
Guide To Senior Home Safety
Are ‘Silver Alerts’ nation or statewide?
I just read a newspaper article on a 66 yr old Indiana lady that had wandered off from her home. She was found dead. A ‘silver alert,’ had been issued yesterday. This was the first time such an issue had been used according to this Indiana news article. The ‘Amber Alert’ has proved to help find children within hours of reports being missing, now there is ‘Silver Alerts’ which I feel is a great idea, so the public are informed quickly to be on the lookout for our Seniors that may be in dire straits. Do any other countries have such a set up for their elderly citizens?
Silver Alerts are a notification system used to locate confused senior citizens who have wandered away from their homes or caretakers.
This lady though only 66, had Alzheimers.
I always thought they were statewide. I have never seen one issued from any other state except the one that i live in.
While the Amber Alert system is now active in all 50 states, the Silver Alert program is just now gaining traction. Colorado was the first state to initiate the program, in 2006. Since then, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Ohio, Texas, Virginia and Florida are among the states that have followed suit. Bills are pending in other states, and a nationwide Silver Alert bill is pending in Congress.
I never heard of ‘silver alerts’ and FYI, I don’t consider 66 to be ‘elderly’.
They are just catching on.
I live in Ohio. Never heard it before till this minute. It’s a good idea though. (Re Amber alerts – was that the little girl’s name that the program is named after? I think so but not sure.)
Only about 12 States in the U.S. have “Silver Alert” programs; for missing adults who have a cognitive impairment. Here in Florida, alerts must first go out locally, then regionally, before they can be sent Statewide.
It would be grand if all the States would adopt this program; and the alerts could easily go beyond State borders. I know of two recent incidents where a person with a dementia took the car keys and drove off….only to be found a couple hundred miles away; dazed, lost, and confused. One incident did not have a “Silver Alert” but the other one did. The Silver Alert sometimes really speeds up finding a disoriented person.
Whether “Silver Alerts” are available or not; the most important thing is to contact local law enforcement as soon as the person is missed and not found in the immediate area. Too often people are hesitant to call for help; and the delay can lose precious time.
I like this idea a lot. But you know most people will look for a child quicker than an older person. Still it is a good thing to have in all states. Poppy
A Silver Alert is not used in Michigan that I know of. It is certainly an excellent idea, though!
Wow, someone else said that Michigan is on board with it. Like I said, I have yet to hear it, though. Maybe it hasn’t been needed where I live yet.
You know it never dawned on me that this sort thing was necessary. When I read your question I checked my states rules. Much to my surprise it does exist. That’s a good thing. However, as a previous answer has stated, it is state and not federal.
Sorry sweetheart,beats me.
I think that would be a good Idea.
We have them in Texas. There are digital signs on the freeways that post Amber alerts and Silver alerts. Usually there is a description of the vehicle and the license plate number as well as where the person disappeared from. I start watching the traffic for them every time. I think that they are a wonderful idea and badly needed. It seems that one of the earliest signs of serious dementia problems is when people drive off in their cars and then can’t find their way back home. Kudos to the states that have adopted the system!
I have been wondering this same thing since I have an Alzheimer’s patient where I work. Thanks to your insightful question and the great answers I will worry no more. Many of these patients are still crafty and quick to slip away especially if they think they can find their way back home. Thank You for the question.