The Texas Legislature created the Silver Alert program in 2007 to notify the public of a possible missing person over the age of 65. Much like the state’s Amber Alert, cell phone user’s can have an alert set to their phone anytime a Silver Alert anywhere in the state has been enacted.
In addition, highway signs throughout Texas will display the Silver Alert with applicable information. There are certain criteria that must be met to activate a Silver Alert for older persons.
**Authorities will require a medical professional provide documentation of the missing persons condition. **
- Must be 65+ OR been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease?
- Does the missing senior have a diagnosed cognitive impairment/impaired mental awareness? Do you believe their health and safety are at risk?
- Have all reasonable explanations to the person’s whereabouts been investigated and ruled out and implications to their disappearance appear to be related to their diminished cognitive ability?
- Is the alert request within 72 hours of disappearance?
- Is there accurate, and reliable information which describes the senior citizen and up to date vehicle information if there is a possibility of them driving?
Like any health problem, disease or disorder, Dementia and related cognitive impairments present differently in each person. Not everyone becomes an elopement risk and wanders off on foot, or worse in a vehicle, however, anything is possible.
If you have a family member, or friend that has been diagnosed with a form of Dementia, or suffers from diminished cognitive capacity for other reasons, we suggest being prepared and asking their doctor(s) for a statement on office letter head describing the diagnosis symptoms. Hopefully, you will never have a need to provide such information to authorities but having it available immediately can save precious time.
It is also prudent to speak to your family or friends’ neighbors, make them aware of any new or recent diagnosis that may compromise cognitive ability. Provide your contact information to anyone willing to keep out a watchful eye.
One of the most useful tools to help locate a missing person of any age is on your Smart Phone. There are many ways to track someone’s location via cell phone such as “Find My iPhone,” for Apple Users or Life 360 which can be downloaded to any Smart Phone. All you must do is set it up and turn on the location services, if the phone is with the person, you can easily track their whereabouts.
