Program of Excellence Award
2011 Recipient - Alzheimer’s Association, Western New York Chapter
Silver Alert Initiative
Sixty percent of people with dementia will wander and become separated from their caregivers or the safety of their homes during the course of their illness, and if not found within the first 24 hours, 50% of those lost will be found either seriously injured or deceased. Following the tragic deaths of three individuals with dementia in the Fall of 2009, and having no coordinated system of communication between the Alzheimer’s Association and law enforcement, the Western New York Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association recognized the need to establish a Silver Alert locally while progress on State legislation of this nature had been stalled for years. Silver Alert is a system uniting law enforcement, media and the Alzheimer’s Association in expediting search efforts for any individual with Alzheimer’s disease or other form of dementia who goes missing. Through the advocacy efforts of the Western New York Chapter, Niagara County implemented a Silver Alert system and legislation in August of 2010. Legislator Edward Rath, III, of Erie County, sponsored this important piece of legislation in conjunction with the Erie County Sheriff’s Office and in November of 2010 it was passed unanimously.
The Silver Alert system, when activated, rapidly disseminates information and collaborative effort regarding the missing person to all media outlets. The alert will include the missing person’s name, age, a physical description of the person, what they may be wearing, and the location they were last seen. The Alzheimer’s Association, Western New York Chapter assists in supporting the care partners during the search and aid law enforcement as needed. The Silver Alert System provides law enforcement with another tool to save lives. The Erie County Sheriff’s Office activated the Silver Alert System for the first time on July 9, 2011. The missing individual was safely returned within two hours of implementing the system. Silver Alert, implemented in only 5 New York Counties – two in Western New York and three in the downstate area - most likely led directly to the implementation of the long lingering NYS legislation known as the Missing Vulnerable Adults Act.