Personal Injury Law

136 Silver Alerts Issued In 2009

By Eddie Farah

They are a lot like the Amber Alerts.

Since Florida began the Silver Alert program a year ago, 136 alerts have been issued for missing Floridians ages 54 to 94. Some have Alzheimer's, while others suffer from dementia. Many wander away from their homes. The alerts are also used for younger adults who have developmental disorders.

Enlisting the help of the community is crucial when someone is missing. Every minute counts and the Silver Alerts engage motorists, who so far have found about 15 percent of the state's total cases.

"The Silver Alert is one of those resources you hope you never have to use, but when you do need it, it is a tremendous safety net for the elders covered by the alert,' says Jon Peck, the communications director for the Florida Department of Elder Affairs.

In the past year at least five seniors were found dead after a Silver Alert was issued, that is about 11 alerts per month.

Silver Alerts no doubt will be useful in the future as Florida's elderly population grows. It's expected there are more than a half million seniors in Florida now with Alzheimer's disease and 115,000 with dementia. And with the number of elders over the age of 85 predicted to increase at the rate of 118 percent through 2020 - it is the fastest growing demographic in the state of Florida.

Florida is one of 18 states with a Silver Alert program and more than a dozen other states have plans to adopt similar programs basedon our success in Florida. #

Full post as published by Jacksonville Personal Injury Lawyer on December 27, 2009 (boomark / email).