Home technology was used to find 80-year-old Margaret Gallaway, who was missing for almost seven days last week. However, according to representatives of Alzheimer’s organizations, no system is perfect for protecting dementia patients.
Data shows that one in 10 people with dementia leave their home, some frequently.
Doorbell video helped authorities locate Gallaway Sunday in a neighbor’s closed garage in their Crown Pointe community in East Naples after the Collier County Sheriff’s Office and volunteers conducted a large-scale manhunt.
More:Doorbell video leads to missing Collier wife Margaret Gallaway in neighbor’s garage
The garage door was open when she entered the garage. The homeowner was absent and later closed the door, unaware that Gallaway had gone into the garage.
After she was found Sunday, Gallaway was taken to a local hospital to be treated for dehydration.
The Collier County Alzheimer’s Support Network is launching a new program called Wayfinder in response to Gallaway’s situation.
There are a wide range of GPS trackers, often referred to as “wearables,” that families and caregivers should explore. They should also “register” their relatives with local law enforcement in case a search becomes necessary.
“If you see an older person alone somewhere in the community and it seems strange, a call to local authorities can make a big difference,” said Lynne Thorp, executive director of the Dubin Center, a nonprofit that provides dementia programs in Lee County.
“We all need to keep our eyes open to the people in the community,” Thorpe said.
Alzheimer’s disease is common in Florida
The Florida chapter of the National Alzheimer’s Association says the state is facing a public health crisis, with 580,000 residents ages 65 and older living with the disease. The number is increasing as the population grows and ages.
The data shows that 827,000 family members are caregivers, providing 1.3 billion hours of unpaid care, worth $23.4 billion.
Data from the state Department of Health shows that 16,116 people over the age of 65 likely have Alzheimer’s disease in Collier. That is 12.5% of the 129,322 residents in the over 65 age group. In Lee, there are 27,041 seniors, or 11.5% of the 234,686 in this age group.
Southwest Florida Resources
The Alzheimer’s Support Network in Collier has a joint program with the Collier Sheriff’s Office called the Wanderer’s Identification Program called WIP. It’s a free service funded by the network, said Clarke Pollard, president and chief executive of the nonprofit agency.
A person is given a special medical alert bracelet that contains only the person’s first name, a special coded number, the optional words “memory impairment,” and the sheriff’s number.
The bracelet was intentionally designed to limit information about the person by not providing the last name or home phone number, he said.
Gallaway is registered with the program; If she had been walking on the street, someone might have seen the bracelet and called the sheriff’s office, he said.
There are currently 84 people enrolled, Pollard said.
“We typically have between 100 and 200 people enrolled each year,” he said.
Crucial to the program is the information collected about the person, family contacts, diagnosis, medications and doctors. The network stores the information and shares it with the sheriff’s office.
Gallaway’s situation was unique
“This means that within minutes of Margaret being reported missing, a recent photo of her, her address, all of her husband’s contact information, her diagnosis and doctors, etc. could be sent to each deputy’s car so they can do it immediately “Start looking,” Pollard said.
For families whose relatives are not registered, the search is often delayed for hours until officials can gather the information they need.
“If Margaret was at Publix, there’s a good chance someone would have seen her and called the number on the (program) bracelet,” he said. “The unique thing about this situation was that she went into a garage and then the door was closed. Even in this situation, (the program) was still effective in initiating the search sooner and providing deputies with the information they needed as quickly as possible.”
Project Lifesaver is another option
The sheriff’s office also runs a program called Project Lifesaver, which involves a radio frequency tracking bracelet.
A sheriff’s helicopter can detect a tracking beacon worn by the elder from 2.5 miles away. The beacon has a battery that needs to be changed every six weeks, Pollard said.
Project Lifesaver is a national program; The Collier Sheriff’s Office website says it operates locally for seniors and children with medical conditions or disabilities. According to the site, more than 1,400 searches were conducted this way.
The Alzheimer’s Support Network is launching a Wayfinder program to offer families devices like Apple Airtags, which can be attached to clothing and even shoelaces with tracking devices, Pollard said.
“Tracking devices have become smaller over the years and now offer a viable solution,” he said.
What’s in Lee County?
The United Way of Lee, Hendry and Glades operates the Reunite Program in collaboration with law enforcement agencies in its region.
The program provides families with a free scent kit that supports search and rescue operations by equipping them with important information in the event the person at risk goes missing, according to the United Way. It is offered free of charge to children and vulnerable adults.
It’s a multi-pronged program that includes the sheriff’s department’s aviation unit, drones and certified bloodhounds for search and rescue operations.
“This program provides families with a free scent kit that supports search and rescue operations by equipping them with critical information in the event the person at risk goes missing,” according to the United Way.
Vigilance is key
The Baker Senior Center of Naples, which offers a wide range of programs as well as a respite program, recommends never leaving someone with dementia alone if possible.
“Doors should be locked and locks should be installed at a height that is difficult to access,” said Jaclynn Faffer, president and CEO.
The state Department of Elder Affairs’ scent kit can be a big help, she said.
“The family of a loved one with dementia can receive a free kit that includes a cloth that can absorb the person’s scent and a small bottle to store the scent,” Faffer said.
“This tool, as well as cameras and bracelets, are important. But even though it is difficult at times, there is nothing better than vigilance,” said Faffer.
GPS tracking devices
There are numerous GPS tracking devices on the market, and it can be challenging to wade through the devices and decide which one is best, according to officials.
One catch with trackers is that people take them off; Caregivers have to get individuals to wear them, and often elders refuse to wear them, said Thorp of the Dubin center.
“There are a lot of wearables and apps on the market, security bracelets, door and floor alarms,” she said. “Every situation is unique and there is no easy answer. Layered protection is the best advice I can give, so there is more than one security mechanism in place.”
Consumer Affairs lists what it believes are the best devices. There are devices for home and in the car; Tariffs vary.
Here is the link to Consumer Affairs’ suggestions: https://www.consumeraffairs.com/medical-alert-systems/best-gps-medical-alert-system.html
Here are some local resources:
Alzheimer’s Support Network – Collier County http://support.network/
The national organization of the Alzheimer’s Association can be found at www.alz.org/.
The Dubin Center – Lee County dubincenter.com/
Baker Senior Center of Naples Bakerseniorcenternaples.org/
United Way of Lee, Hendry and Glades www.UnitedWayLee.org/ReUnite
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