Silver Alert
More than 38,000 individuals in New Mexico suffer from Alzheimer’ s disease or other dementia. Statistics show that about
60 % of these individuals will wander at some time or another. The Albuquerque Police Department and the Department of Senior
Affairs are working together through the Silver Alert program to ensure missing persons with Alzheimer’ s disease or other dementia are quickly returned to their family or caregiver.
Silver Alert is a public notification system to broadcast information about missing persons who suffer from Alzheimer’ s disease of other dementias. The system notifies the public of a missing senior using television, radio, electronic billboards, reverse 911 and traffic signs. The public is asked to call a phone number if they see the missing person.
Individuals who are 60 or older and suffer from Alzheimer’ s disease or other dementia are eligible to register for Silver
Alert. The Department of Senior Affairs will place vital information and a photo of the individual on a USB drive and give the drive to the family member / caregiver who accompanied the person to the
Silver Alert registration. When the family member / caregiver determines that their loved
one is missing, they are asked to call 242-COPS. An officer from the Albuquerque Police Department will come to the residence, or the place from which the person is missing, and initiate an
investigation. If the person is not found immediately, the Silver
Alert will be issued, notifying all media sources of the importance of finding the individual as quickly as possible. The alert will contain a photograph of the person and state their name, description, age, relevant medical conditions, vehicle type if applicable and their last know whereabouts. If you had previously registered your loved one
with Silver Alert, this important information will be on the USB drive in your possession that you already completed with the assistance of the Department of Senior Affairs. At that time, you will turn over the USB drive that contains this vital information to the Albuquerque Police Office working with you.
Registration for Silver Alert is on-going. If you are interested in registering your loved one for Silver Alert, please contact the Department of Senior Affairs at 505-764-6400.
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