Silver Alert in Iowa: Helping Locate Missing Seniors
The safety and well-being of seniors are a top priority of senior care providers and communities. Research from the Alzheimer's Association found that 40% of elderly individuals with Alzheimer's will wander away from their homes at least once.
Ensuring seniors are in a safe living environment is an important precaution to take. Another critical tool designed to protect this vulnerable population is the Silver Alert system. This public notification program helps locate missing seniors who may be at significant risk due to dementia or Alzheimer's disease.
Here's a more detailed look at the program.
Understanding the Silver Alert System
The Silver Alert system is similar to the Amber Alert system, which helps locate missing children by alerting the public through multiple communication channels.
Silver alerts communicate detailed information about senior citizens, including information about cognitive impairments. Communicating as much information as possible to the public leads to quicker, safer returns.
Alerts are sent via:
- Local and regional media outlets
- Radio stations
- Local television stations
- Electronic billboards and highway signs
The purpose is to engage the public in the search. Leveraging such community awareness assists search teams, local authorities, and helps expedite recovery efforts.
How Does the Silver Alert System Operate?
When a senior citizen goes missing in Iowa, the following steps are initiated immediately:
Family members, caregivers, neighbors, and friends are urged to report the missing senior immediately. Local law enforcement agencies should be contacted promptly upon realizing that the individual is missing.
Individuals reporting the missing senior are also urged to provide as much information as possible, including health conditions like Alzheimer's, dementia, diabetes, and heart conditions. If the missing senior needs a specific medication, that information should be disclosed, as well.
More details include:
- Physical description
- The senior's age
- Last known whereabouts
- Any relevant medical history
- The name they respond to
Law Enforcement must receive this information as soon as possible so they can verify the missing senior. This process often involves confirming the individual's age, cognitive condition, and the circumstances of their disappearance.
Once the information is verified, local law enforcement with coordinate with state agencies to issue an Iowa Silver Alert.
Agencies will broadcast this information across multiple platforms, including radio, TV stations, and electronic highway signs, to reach a wider audience quickly. Silver alerts may also be issued via SMS messaging; Iowa residents may receive an alert on their phones in the form of a pop-up or push notification.
Broadcasting this information spurs necessary public engagement. The community is encouraged to be vigilant in their efforts and report any sightings. If community members have any information about a missing senior, they should contact the proper agencies immediately.
Public participation is a cornerstone of the Silver Alert system's effectiveness.
The EPA System
In Iowa, the safety of wandering seniors is addressed through the Endangered Person Advisory system. This system is the foundation for the silver alert system.
The EPA system was established on July 1, 1985, by the Department of Public Safety. The Missing Person Information Clearinghouse was assembled to gather, coordinate, and communicate information about missing adult persons and unidentified individuals.
The Clearinghouse assists law enforcement in raising public awareness to locate missing adults quickly and effectively.
Missing Senior Alerts In Iowa
The EPA is similar to the Silver Alert system. When a person fitting the criteria goes missing in Iowa, the following process is activated:
Immediate reporting leads to immediate action in Iowa. There's no waiting period to report a missing senior in Iowa. Family members or caregivers should call law enforcement urgently to receive an immediate response.
Iowa authorities promptly investigate these cases as soon as they're reported to determine if the missing individual qualifies for an EPA or Silver Alert. This process involves evaluating the senior's age, cognitive condition, and the potential risks associated with their disappearance.
Once the criteria are met, a local advisory will be activated by law enforcement. Locale agencies will work with the Department of Public Safety to issue an EPA and Silver Alert.
Legislative Efforts and Developments In Iowa
In 2014, the Iowa Senate recognized the importance of improving the state's response to missing seniors and those individuals with cognitive impairments.
On February 24, 2014, the Senate unanimously approved Senate File 2189. This move mandated that the Iowa Department of Transportation display information about missing cognitively impaired individuals on dynamic overhead highway signs.
The 49-0 vote underscored the legislature's commitment to leveraging existing infrastructure to aid in locating vulnerable adults.
Such elder protection initiatives aim to integrate the Endangered Person Advisory system more seamlessly with public notification tools. It ensures that critical information reaches motorists and the broader community promptly.
By utilizing dynamic highway signs, the state sought to increase the visibility of alerts and engage more citizens in the search efforts.
Prevalence and Risk Factors of Missing Seniors
Understanding the prevalence and risk factors associated with missing seniors is vital for developing effective senior safety programs.
Cognitive impairments, such as those seen in dementia and Alzheimer's disease, are primary risk factors for wandering. The neurocognitive deficits associated with these conditions can lead individuals to become disoriented and inadvertently leave safe environments.
There are other demographic considerations to know.
The prevalence of cognitive impairment increases with age. Data from the CDC reports the percentage of adults aged 65 and older with diagnosed dementia was 4.0% in both 2019 and 2022.
Community and family intervention are vital to prevention and cognitive impairment support.
Preventing incidents of wandering and ensuring the safety of seniors with cognitive impairments require proactive measures from both families and the local community.
Improving Iowa Dementia Safety Is Critical
When it comes to the health and safety of seniors in Iowa, it should be all hands on deck. All residents, caregivers, and family members should know how Iowa's Silver Alert system works.
Taking necessary precautions means ensuring your aging loved ones are in a safe community. That's where Addington Place of Fairfield comes in. Our community is designed with senior wellness in mind, and that philosophy prioritizes safety.
Book a tour of our community or contact us today to discuss your goals for senior wellness!