Florida Injury Prevention Programs for Seniors (FLIPS)

1. Florida Injury Prevention Programs for Seniors (FLIPS) Safer Communities for Persons with Dementia Safe Return Registration prepared by Meredeth Rowe, RN, PhD Univerity of Florida College of Nursing/Institute on Aging

2. Safe Return program

3. Description • Safe Return • program administered by national Alzheimer’s Association • similar to ‘medic alert’ • 24- hour ‘800’ operators to provide assistance in facilitating return to caregivers • 3 phases • registration • missing report • discovery

4. registration • caregivers should register anyone with dementia • not just for wanderers • whether living at home or institutional setting • registration form for Alzheimer’s Association • local chapter • national office - 800.272.3900; www.alz.org • need • registration form • current photograph of person with dementia • wrist size (for bracelet) • phone and fax numbers for local law enforcement agency • $40 • scholarships are available for anyone in financial need

5. Missing report • in the event a registered person is missing • call 800 help number • operators will • fax picture and report to local law enforcement

6. Discovery • if you find someone with Safe Return bracelet • call Safe Return • Safe Return will attempt to contact caregiver • arrangements will be made for safe return • call 911 • report you found an individual that seems to have dementia • remain with the individual • individual will not follow instructions • critical to keep them safe • deaths have occurred when good samaritan has left after calling 911

7. Identification tags • bracelet and clothing labels • first name and 800 number of reverse side • “My name is John and I have a memory problem.”

8. Caregiver jewelry • identifies an individual as a dementia caregiver • if caregiver is in accident • jewelry will alert health care /law enforcement personnel to ensure dementia person safe