On the recordJune 23, 2011
I rise today with Senator Manchin to introduce the Silver Alert Act of 2011. This legislation increases the chances of quickly locating missing senior citizens by establishing a national communications network to help regional and local search efforts. Every year, thousands of adults go missing from their homes or care facilities due to diminished mental capacity, dementia, Alzheimer's disease, or other circumstances. As the population of the United States ages, that number is likely to increase. Over five million Americans currently suffer from Alzheimer's disease, and it is estimated that 60 percent of these men and women are likely to wander away from their homes. Disorientation and confusion may keep many from finding their way back home. The safe return of missing persons often depends upon them being found quickly. If not found within 24 hours, roughly half risk serious illness, injury, or death. Only four percent of those Alzheimer's sufferers who leave home are able to get back without some assistance. Our bill would create a national program to coordinate existing state-based Silver Alert plans so that missing seniors can be returned safely to their homes and families. Not only will a federal network increase the success of efforts to find missing seniors, but it also eliminates duplicative search efforts, saving the public time and money. The Silver Alert Act creates this needed Federal network.…
