New York Governor Addresses Missing Adult Alert System

In the news room yesterday, we became aware of Gov. Andrew Cuomo of New York issuing a press release regarding the launch of a statewide alert system similar to the Amber Alert system for children. The "Missing Adult Alert" system is for vulnerable adults - those elderly or impaired adults who become lost.

Cuomo stated, "This system has saved lives regarding missing children, and now it will provide the same assistance when it comes to finding vulnerable adults." You can read about it here.

I believe this is a wonderful idea as we have experienced firsthand what happens when an adult suffering with dementia becomes disoriented. Last winter, an adult strayed from an assisted living facility locally and wound up freezing to death. She was located the next day, just a few hundred feet away from the facility that she wandered from in the middle of the night.

Adults with Alzheimer often wander away from caregivers. The same tools that are used for the Amber Alert system will be put into place for the missing adults such as distribution of posters, a toll-free 24-hour hotline for tips, broadcasting partnerships with local media and NY-ALERT system at www.nyalert.gov

Deputy Secretary for Public Safety Elizabeth Glazer said, "Each year, hundreds of adult New Yorkers wander away from home and spend hours lost, often unbeknownst to the people passing them by. This new law signed by Governor Cuomo will help our law enforcement get the word out about missing adults and empower New Yorkers to be on the lookout for people in their neighborhoods who may need police assistance."

Senator John Defrancisco said, "With this new Missing Adult Alert system, New York will be better able to protect vulnerable adults from the tragedies that can happen when they mistakenly wander away from home. Several years ago here in Syracuse, a woman with Alzheimer's left her home late at night and traveled all the way to Connecticut, placing herself in harm's way. I commend Governor Cuomo for signing the bill that enacted this program into law."

Catherine James, Coalition Co-Chair and Chief Executive Officer of the Alzheimer's Association Central New York Chapter, said, "This system will provide greater peace of mind to the more than 330,000 New York families touched by this disease."

Roughly 95% of the adults who go missing each year are found within a quarter mile of their home. If you encounter an adult who appears dazed and confused, you should immediately call 911.

Your call could reunite them with their loved ones.

Sources:

http://www.governor.ny.gov/press/10242011VulnerableAdults

http://criminaljustice.state.ny.us/missing/

http://www.lbth.org/ncma/content.php?webid=about_ncma