Registry helps lost Alzheimer wanderers get home safely

By Ken Johnston
Editor

When a person who has Alzheimer Disease wanders off it can be a frightening experience for family members and caregivers.
However, the Alzheimer Society of Canada and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police have developed a program called Safely Home to help both the lost and those worried about them.
Jim Shearer, First Link and Public Coordinator with the Kenora-Rainy River Alzheimer Society, has been busy promoting the program in the region. While it has been around for about 15 years, he said that many people are just becoming aware of it.
Registration is voluntary, but for a one time fee of $35, a person with Alzheimer Disease can have personal information listed on a national data base. They also receive an I.D. bracelet and I.D. card. This serves to benefit both parts of the equation. For family and caregivers they can call the police and provide them with the person’s I.D. number and alert officers who to look for. For someone with Alzheimers they may be unable to recognize familiar places or even remember their own name. In the latter case the police can use the I.D. number from the bracelet or card to find out where they belong and who to contact.
To register for the program, people can log onto the internet at www.safelyhome.ca or www.alzheimerkenoraandrainyriverdistricts.com for information.
For those that do not have a computer or access to the internet, Shearer said they can call his office in Kenora toll free and they will help them get set up. The number is 1-800-682-0245.
Shearer said he has nearly educated all the OPP officers in Kenora and is hoping to do the same thing in the Fort Frances-Rainy River area in the near future about Safely Home.