Dear Denise,
I am a relative of a man who has Alzheimer’s. His elderly wife probably does not know about the ID bracelets that are available. Where might I order one for each of them – her as the caregiver? I do not live in the same state as they do.
So far, he has not wondered, but she is concerned that he might. They live in a very rural area.
Hello,
The bracelets are part of a program called Safe Return developed by the Alzheimer’s Association. Here’s how the association describes the program:
“Safe Return® is a nationwide identification, support and enrollment program that provides assistance when a person with Alzheimer’s or a related dementia wanders and becomes lost locally or far from home.
“Assistance is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If an enrollee is missing, one call immediately activates a community support network to help reunite the lost person with his or her caregiver.
“Safe Return faxes the enrolled person’s information and photo (if provided) to local law enforcement. When the person is found, a citizen or law official calls the 800-number on the identification products and Safe Return notifies listed contacts. The nearest Alzheimer’s Association office provides information and support during the search and rescue efforts.”
Both the care recipient and family caregiver can wear an ID bracelet; the family caregiver wears one to alert others during an emergency that he or she provides care for a person with Alzheimer’s.
The Alzheimer’s Association has information on its website about enrolling
in Safe Return; you can go here for more information: http://alz.org/we_can_help_safe_return.asp#enrollment
You can enroll them online, by phone or by mail.
You are very wise to do this.
