Silver Alert in Missouri: Ensuring the Safety of Missing Seniors

Memory loss and cognitive decline are some of the scariest parts of aging, but you're far from alone when contending with them. According to National Library of Medicine research, two in every three seniors experience some form of cognitive impairment.

The Silver Alert system is an invaluable tool for helping families whose vulnerable loved ones go missing. Here, we'll discuss the ins and outs of these dementia safety programs and how to keep your family members safe and sound.

What Is the Silver Alert System?

If you've ever heard of the Amber Alert system to locate missing children, the Silver Alert is a similar concept. However, instead of locating kids, it aims to bring vulnerable seniors home.

Silver Alerts can't be issued for all older adults in Missouri. They're specifically intended to locate those with cognitive impairments.

Some conditions that may qualify someone for a silver alert include:

• Dementia
• Alzheimer's
• Parkinson's disease

This is far from a comprehensive list, but the conditions all must cause significant cognitive issues.

In addition to having a cognitive disability, seniors must also:

• Be over age 60
• Have families or caregivers who reported them as missing to the police
• Be believed to be in danger due to their age and decreased cognitive capabilities

If someone who meets these criteria goes missing, Missouri authorities can initiate the Silver Alert protocol.

How Do Missing Senior Alerts Work?

The first step toward broadcasting a Silver Alert is to make a missing persons report for the senior who has left their home.

During this report, families or caregivers can inform the authorities of cognitive and memory issues that the missing person has. If the individual meets the Silver Alert criteria, law enforcement will initiate the advisory.

In Missouri, the Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop F is responsible for issuing and broadcasting Silver Alerts.

Then, those taking advantage of these dementia safety programs can expect a broadcast on:

• Radio
• Television
• Social media platforms
• SMS alerts within the area
• Digital signs on nearby highways
• Signs in nearby residential areas with a lot of traffic driving by

Broadcasts are prioritized in areas close to where the missing person was last seen. After all, most seniors who go missing don't intend to go far from home. People with cognitive impairments usually vanish because they are confused or disoriented.

The broadcasts contain information like:

• The missing senior's name
• Basic information like their gender, skin tone, hair color, and eye color
• Photos, if available
• Any defining markings like tattoos or scars in noticeable areas
• The location where the person was last seen
• Any likely locations the person may have been trying to go (such as community residences, relatives' houses, or local stores)
• A contact number for those who think they have seen the person

In some cases, the alerts will broadcast additional information that the family wants out there. This may include:

• What conditions make the senior vulnerable to safety risks
• How severe their cognitive decline is
• How to approach the person after a sighting
• How to best communicate with the senior (including information about conditions they have that make communication challenging)

Proliferating this information makes it easier for people to bring the missing senior to safety.

Why Are These Senior Safety Initiatives Important?

Once the Silver Alert broadcast goes out, the authorities are no longer alone in trying to locate the missing person.

The aim is that those who see or hear the alert will:

• Remain alert and look for anyone matching the missing person's description
• Share it on social media
• Message it privately to others in the area
• Tell others around them (such as family members and colleagues) about the alert

This ultimately may lead to the missing senior getting home safely. They create urgency and ensure that people act fast to find the person. Since most missing persons who are found alive are located within 72 hours, Silver Alert programs can be lifesaving.

Silver Alerts are most commonly used in cases of dementia wandering.

This condition happens when a senior becomes confused or disoriented and leaves their living space. They frequently go off in search of food or a bathroom and forget their objective along the way.

This leads to getting lost, which creates even further confusion. The Alzheimer's Association reports that 60% of Americans with dementia will at some point wander.

Preventing the Need for Silver Alerts

The best way to prevent cognitive impairment alerts from becoming a necessity is to keep vulnerable seniors safe and secure at home. This is easy when they live in a comfortable and well-appointed memory care community.

In Addington Place of Lee's Summit, Missouri seniors gain access to:

• Locked doors
• Secure apartments
• Accessible amenities made to prevent injury
• Round-the-clock monitoring

Safety is a top priority for our caregivers, and we're committed to making sure that seniors are both safe and comfortable in their private apartments.

Additionally, our memory care program aims to keep residents as sharp as possible. This specialized living option offers:

• Sensory experiences meant to stimulate different areas of the brain
• Puzzles and games made specifically to boost cognition
• Purpose-driven social engagement that stimulates the mind and builds critical thinking skills
• Reflective moments and reminiscence therapy to improve memory

When seniors take advantage of these programs, it helps to keep them as sharp as possible. While dementia still will take a toll on residents' lives, quality exercises to build cognitive function may mitigate the risk of dementia wandering and associated confusion.

Keep Your Loved One Safe in Missouri Memory Care

Understanding the Silver Alert system is important for elderly protection systems. However, it's best to keep older adults in secure living spaces that monitor their whereabouts while promoting well-being.

Addington Place of Lee's Summit prides itself on having accessible, easy-to-navigate amenities. Our secure community has locked doors and 24/7 monitoring to ensure that residents don't wander into dangerous situations.

We're excited to create personalized plans to care for your loved one safely, so contact us to schedule a tour and learn more about our memory care living option!