Silver Alert: Helping to Find Missing Seniors

Silver Alert

A Silver Alert is a nationwide program that helps to locate missing senior citizens who are at risk of injury or death. The program was created in 2006 and has been credited with helping to locate more than 1,000 missing seniors.

How does a Silver Alert work?

When a senior citizen is reported missing, law enforcement will issue a Silver Alert if they meet the following criteria:

• The missing person is 65 years of age or older.
• The missing person has a cognitive impairment, such as Alzheimer's disease or dementia.
• The missing person is at risk of injury or death.

Once a Silver Alert is issued, law enforcement will broadcast the missing person's information to the public through the media, social media, and electronic highway signs. The public is asked to be on the lookout for the missing person and to report any sightings to the police.

Silver Alert Statistics

According to the National Crime Information Center (NCIC), there were 1,592 Silver Alerts issued in 2021. Of those alerts, 1,035 missing seniors were located. This means that Silver Alerts have a success rate of 65%.

Table 1: Silver Alert Statistics

Who is at risk of being reported missing?

Seniors with cognitive impairments are at the highest risk of being reported missing. This is because they may not be able to remember where they are or how to get home. They may also be more likely to wander away from home without realizing it.

Other factors that can increase the risk of being reported missing include:

• Being alone. Seniors who live alone are more likely to be reported missing because there is no one to notice that they are gone.
• Having a history of wandering. Seniors who have a history of wandering are more likely to go missing again.
• Living in a rural area. Seniors who live in rural areas are more likely to be reported missing because there are fewer people around to see them.

Table 2: Risk Factors for Missing Seniors

What to do if you see a missing senior

If you see a senior citizen who appears to be lost or confused, do not approach them. Instead, call the police. The police will be able to determine if the senior citizen is missing and will take the appropriate steps to locate their family.

How to prevent your loved one from going missing

There are a number of things you can do to prevent your loved one from going missing, including:

• Talk to your loved one about the importance of staying safe. Make sure they know that they should never leave home without telling you where they are going.
• Help your loved one create a safety plan. This plan should include a list of places where they can go if they get lost, as well as a list of people they can call for help.
• Encourage your loved one to wear an ID bracelet or necklace. This will help to identify them if they get lost.
• Install a GPS tracker on your loved one's clothing or belongings. This will help you to track their location if they go missing.

Stories of missing seniors

Story 1:

In 2021, an 82-year-old woman with Alzheimer's disease went missing from her home in Florida. Her family reported her missing and a Silver Alert was issued. Within hours, she was found safe and sound, thanks to the help of the public.

What we learn:

This story shows how important it is to report a missing senior as soon as possible. The sooner a Silver Alert is issued, the more likely it is that the missing senior will be found safely.

Story 2:

In 2020, a 75-year-old man with dementia went missing from his home in California. He was found two days later, wandering in the desert. He was dehydrated and disoriented, but he was otherwise unharmed.

What we learn:

This story shows how important it is to be aware of the risks of wandering. Seniors with dementia may not be able to remember where they are or how to get home. It is important to take steps to prevent them from wandering away from home.

Story 3:

In 2019, a 65-year-old woman with Alzheimer's disease went missing from her home in Texas. She was found two weeks later, living in a homeless shelter. She was malnourished and had been the victim of abuse.

What we learn:

This story shows how important it is to be prepared for the possibility that a missing senior may be victimized. If a senior goes missing, it is important to contact the police immediately and to be aware of the risks that they may face.

Effective Strategies for Preventing Missing Seniors

1. Educate seniors about the importance of staying safe.

2. Help seniors create a safety plan.

3. Encourage seniors to wear an ID bracelet or necklace.

4. Install a GPS tracker on seniors' clothing or belongings.

5. Be aware of the risks of wandering.

6. Take steps to prevent seniors from wandering away from home.

7. Report a missing senior to the police immediately.

8. Be aware of the risks that missing seniors may face.

Step-by-Step Approach to Finding a Missing Senior

1. Report the missing senior to the police immediately.

2. Provide the police with as much information as possible about the missing senior, including their name, age, description, and last known location.

3. Contact local hospitals, nursing homes, and shelters to see if the missing senior has been admitted.

4. Post flyers in the area where the missing senior was last seen.

5. Use social media to spread the word about the missing senior.

6. Contact the Silver Alert program in your area.

7. Stay informed about the search for the missing senior by checking the Silver Alert website and social media pages.

Table 3: Resources for Missing Seniors