York Town News
Feb. 13 program to help Alzheimer's sufferers stay safe
By Melissa Wood
YORK - In a recent incident, local police found an elderly resident outside on the street.The police did not know the resident's name, and the resident could not tell them.
Sadly, such occurrences are not uncommon for people suffering from Alzheimer's. More than 60 percent wander from home, and those that wander for more than four hours face a 50 percent risk of death or serious injury.
In an effort to prevent similar incidents that could lead to tragedy, the York Police Department is inviting members of the community affected by Alzheimer's to sign up for the Safe Return Program. The program provides participants with identification, such as a bracelet or necklace, and enters them into a national database so police, medical personnel and others will know who they are and who to contact in case of emergency.
Area residents can learn about the program and sign up on Feb. 13 at Sentry Hill where Peg Gagnon, information and outreach specialist with the Maine Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association, will present information about the program in the Primrose Dining Room at 2 p.m. After the presentation, people will be able to sign up for the program.
York Ptl. Shaun Darrow was inspired to organize the event after the incident with the wandering resident.
"We're hoping for a good turnout," he said, but added, "even if one person shows up and it benefits them, it's worth it."
There are approximately 30,000 people in Maine with Alzheimer's disease, including 3,700 in York County.
Many are cared for by family members who are also elderly. Besides the risk of wandering from home, they are also in danger of being left home alone if their caregiver suffers a medical emergency and needs to be brought to the hospital.
"Sometimes they only have one person there," said Darrow.
Darrow said recently that emergency medical technicians in nearby Wells knew to bring both the caretaker - who had suffered the medical emergency - and the person with Alzheimer's to the hospital because the person was registered with Safe Return.
The Feb. 13 event is open to members of all communities as the database is nationwide and those who attend are encouraged to bring recent photographs.
York police will also be putting together a separate database for town residents.
For more information, contact Darrow at 363-4444 or Gagnon at 772-0115.
