Description of Program
Many of our elderly have Dementia, Alzheimer's Disease, or are on medication that causes them confusion and disorientation. They may wander outside the home into unfamiliar areas where they could be injured or result in death. This was recently demonstrated by two elderly men in Genesee and Shiawassee Counties who wandered off, had no identification to let others know they had dementia and needed to be brought to safety and both incidents resulted in the death of these elderly men.

Since these two events, the Elder Abuse Prevention Program, in cooperation with the Office of the Genesee County Sheriff developed a program to help with early recognition by the community of our confused elderly, so they can be brought safely home.

Wrist Bands
The wrist band will be worn by the elderly person who is confused, living at home or in an institution that does not have an alarm system in place for persons who elope. A bright, YELLOW, wrist band will be placed on the individual's dominant arm.

Registration Cards
There will also be a bright, YELLOW, registration card to be completed and returned to the Sheriff's Department with a recent photo of the elder. In the event that this person wanders from their home, a "Silver Alert" will be issued by the Sheriff's Department and they will begin searching immediately for the lost elder. This "Safe Wandering Program" is a stepping-stone to our process of keeping our seniors safe and protected from a world they may see as frightening and unfamiliar.

Future Trends
The Elder Abuse Prevention Program is already looking into a more elaborate tracking system, such as, an economical GPS (global positioning system). This system would be purchased by the family at possibly a low cost and then be monitored by the Sheriff Department free of charge.

Again, this is a long-term goal but for now the YELLOW wrist bands and registration cards are available at no cost to families.

The one thing we want is for our community to be AWARE AND ALERT.

If you see any elderly person wearing a bright YELLOW wrist band with black lettering, take them immediately to a safe area, and either call 911, or the number on the wrist band, 810-257-3422 (24 hours).

Let's all work together to "Keep Seniors Safe."