Helping a Loved One with Dementia
Alzheimer's disease and dementia disorders can impair a person's judgement, increasing the chances of someone going missing. The first thing you can do to help a loved one who has a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease or dementia, is to be aware of the risk factors that contribute to someone going missing.
Risk Factors for Silver Alert:
- 4.4 million Florida residents are 60 and older
- 523,463 probable Alzheimer’s cases in Florida
- 70% of persons with dementia are cared for at home and have access to a car
- Memory loss and disorientation make it easy for a cognitively impaired driver to get lost
- Decline in judgment makes it difficult to drive safely and follow traffic laws
- 60% of people with Alzheimer’s will wander at some point in the disease, either on foot or in a vehicle
Wandering
The term wandering is misleading. The majority of cognitively impaired drivers who become lost are conducting normal activities. They made a decision to go somewhere, even if that decision is faulty.
If you believe your loved one is at risk for wandering, please contact one of our community partners to learn how you can prevent your loved one from going missing, or call the Florida Silver Alert Help Line, 1-877-404-SILVER.