Local support sought for Silver Alert law

Legislation would keep eye out for missing seniors

What works for one vulnerable population might work for another. That's what many who support the creation of a Silver Alert system are hoping for.

Based on the Amber Alert system that locates children in distress, several senior groups and elected officials are hoping to enact a Silver Alert focused on seniors. From the Nevada Senior Coalition to the Alzheimer's Association to the Vegas Voice publication, each entity has vocalized its public support for passage of Assembly Bill 4 -- Nevada's Silver Alert initiative.

If passed by both the AB 4 and State Senate, and signed by the governor into law, Assembly Bill no. 4 would take effect July 1, 2009.

Dennis Vetter, former chief of security for Sun City Summerlin, pointed out what he has witnessed.

"Sometimes, they (a senior citizen) would step out of the house to the mailbox ... and keep going," he said.

The proposed Silver Alert, modeled almost entirely on the Amber Alert system, focuses on locating seniors that are lost by and large due to the effects of Alzheimer's or dementia. Like its predecessor the Amber Alert system, once a senior is determined to be missing, law enforcement will activate the alert. In turn, key information will be immediately sent to targeted areas on electronic billboards, road signs and text messages by participating agencies.

Deborah Schaus, director of the Alzheimer's Association Desert Southwest Chapter, sees a need for such a program.

"(There is) a particular need in the Southwest due to the extreme heat, the vast desert areas and exposure." she said. With (the Silver Alert) in place, there will be a tremendous positive impact."

According to Schaus, estimates of those suffering from Alzheimer's will grow to 29,000 in the next few years in Nevada alone. One Alzheimer study suggests that six out of 10 sufferers will become disoriented and wander at some point.

While the Nevada bill does not specifically state that a medical condition or diagnosis is required to activate the Silver Alert, the primary focus remains the same, to mitigate the dangers faced by those with Alzheimer's and dementia.

Under various names and similar criteria, a version of the Silver Alert already has passed in 11 states and is pending in another five states, including Nevada. When the state Legislature convenes Feb. 2, the first matters to discuss will be AB 4. It outlines the parameters of the proposed creation of a Silver Alert system - how it is activated, the criteria used, the participants, the costs and responsibility, among other aspects.

While the State Legislature is focusing on cutting the state budget, supporters of the bill are hoping that seniors and other citizens alike will contact their representatives to express support.

According to Dan Roberts, publisher of the Vegas Voice and an advocate of the pending bill, the cost of the program is extremely minimal because it is modeled on a pre-existing system.

Cold, hard numbers are important in a budget, Roberts said, explaining that voters should look at the legislation mindful of a grandparent, a veteran or someone who has raised their family and now needs a little help in that first 24 hours.

Roberts pointed out pending action at the federal level will help buttress adoption of the bill.

He added that Congress is currently considering passing a bill, House Resolution 6064, which would act as a granting mechanism to help fund any state needs. And if the bill passes, states could request support to alleviate any financial barriers for implementing a Silver Alert program.