Bracelets for Alzehimer sufferers

Imagine someone you love being lost in an unfamiliar place, with no one to help and no idea to get home. Not only would they feel frightened and alone, you would also feel anxious and helpless.

A person with brain related disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease might wander away from home at any stage of the illness. According to statistics, of those wandering found within 12 hours, 93 percent survive.

Escambia County Chief Deputy Mike Lambert said Project Lifesaver gives families who care for someone suffering from Alzheimer’s a peace of mind.

“Peace of mind is worth a lot,” Lambert said. “You may have a love one at home and they’ve got Alzheimer’s. You may go to sleep and they may leave on you. It happens more often then people think. A loved one walks off or maybe even drives off. If that’s the case, that can be a tougher situation. With this program we can reach out to surrounding counties for help if he or she crosses county lines.

Sixteen people in Escambia County participate in Project Lifesaver. The program provides clients with a state-of-the-art wristband transmitter, which emits a unique radio frequency and tracing signal 24 hours a day. If a client wonders or goes missing, a trained search team is able to use a tracking system to quickly find the client and take him or her home.

According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department the average time to locate a missing loved one is 20-30 minutes from the time of deployment.

“Its 100 percent effective when used correctly,” Lambert said. “It’s the only type of search and respond technology proven to work like that.

Equipment, training, certification and support to law enforcement, public safety organizations and community groups throughout the country and nation are provided.

Project manager for Covenant Alzheimer’s, Audery Hanline said insurance companies do not cover the wristbands.

“The transmitters are usually provided at no cost,” Hanline said. “We provide transmitters to families, but monthly maintenance fees are $75. The funding is not covered by insurance or federal or state. Funding comes from the community.”

To donate to the program send funds directly to Covenant Alzheimer’s Services at 5041 North 12th  Avenue, Pensacola, FL., 32504; by calling 1.855.CARE.365; or visiting online at choosecovenant.org.