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Silver Alert Helps Keep Senior Citizens Safe
If you've got a senior citizen in your life suffering from dementia or Alzheimer's disease, you probably worry about them wandering away and not being able to find their way home. A new law that addresses this issue is under consideration right now.
In September, the House of Representatives passed the National Silver Alert Act. Much like an Amber Alert for missing children, the act would establish a formal, public notification system to spread information about senior citizens who are missing. The bill was introduced after an 86-year-old Florida woman wandered away from an assisted living facility and was later found dead.
Visiting Angels, an organization that provides in-home care for thousands of seniors across the country, is urging everyone to call and write their senators to encourage them to sponsor the bill.
"Senior safety is first and foremost for Visiting Angels," says chief operating officer Patricia Drea. "The National Silver Alert Act would give families the peace of mind that, if their loved one is missing, the public would be notified and on the lookout for them."
Currently Silver Alert programs operate in about a dozen states and the National Silver Alert Act would provide federal support to the state initiatives and assist in the expansion of Silver Alert. The bill, S 3579, would create a Silver Alert Coordinator within the Department of Justice, who would set voluntary guidelines and monitor state Silver Alert programs. The coordinator would consult with agencies such as the Federal Communications Commission, the Department of Transportation and the Administration on Aging to develop best practices and provide federal funds to implement state Silver Alert programs.
"Reuniting missing seniors with their families requires a rapid and united response," says Drea. "With the National Silver Alert Act our communities can use and build on existing resources to help keep our seniors safe."
Visiting Angels and other organizations serving senior citizens are asking the public to contact their senators and encourage them to become a co-sponsor of S 3579 and to support the bill when it comes to a vote on the floor. You can find your senator at www.senate.gov.
For more information on the latest news for seniors and living assistance services, visit www.visitingangels.com.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
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