What is a Silver Alert, and How Can You Prevent a Missing Senior?

When a senior in your care goes missing, the emotional weight is heavy. Fear and anxiety set in, as every minute feels crucial. Silver Alerts, designed to notify the public about missing seniors, can offer hope. However, they’re also a stark reminder of the vulnerability the people in our care face, and the preventative measures we should take to help keep seniors safe.

This is where My Family ID comes in. By securely storing essential identification and medical information, My Family ID ensures that crucial details are instantly available should a senior go missing. With quick access to their personal profiles, caregivers and authorities can act faster and more effectively during a Silver Alert. My Family ID offers a proactive way to protect the ones you love, providing peace of mind when it matters most.

What is a Silver Alert?

Silver Alerts are emergency broadcasts used to alert the public about a missing senior. They typically include the senior’s physical description, last known location, and any other relevant information. The goal is to inform the community and provide all the information available so people can work together by keeping an eye out to help locate the missing senior.

Silver Alerts originated in the United States in 2003 in Tennessee and have since been adopted by many states across the country. These alerts have proven to be effective tools in assisting law enforcement agencies in their search efforts. In fact, studies have shown that Silver Alerts have helped to locate a significant number of missing seniors.

Every state has it’s own website that lists all of the active Silver Alerts, a quick google search will allow you to pull up your satate law enforcement’s silver alerts. 

How to Prevent a Missing Senior

The Alzheimer’s Association estimates 60% of people with Alzheimer’s disease will wander. Here are some steps you can take to minimize the risk:

• Create a Safety Plan: Develop a safety plan for seniors in your care. This plan should include keeping emergency contact information, medical history, and any specific needs or concerns written somewhere on them (either their phone, wallet, or pocket works usually.) A safety plan can also involve discussing a meeting place, in case they remember. 

• Be Prepared with My Family ID: My Family ID is a helpful tool for keeping your senior’s information organized and accessible. With features like Biometric Face Scan, Medical Information, Emergency Contact information, and fingerprinting, My Family ID can provide vital information to law enforcement in case of an emergency.

• Enroll in a GPS Tracking Device: Consider using a GPS tracking device for seniors. These devices can provide real-time location information and can be especially helpful for individuals with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.

• Stay Connected: Maintain regular contact with the senior in your care. Check in frequently to ensure their well-being and address any concerns they may have.

• Communicate With Your Community: Talk to your neighbors and people you encounter regularly to inform them of the senior in your care’s condition and what to keep a look out for. For instance, your neighbors should know that your father-in-law has dementia and would not typically be seen walking around the block by themselves.

Partnering with Organizations

My Family ID is committed to working with organizations dedicated to the safety and well-being of seniors. We are actively seeking partnerships with organizations like the Alzheimer’s Association to promote awareness of our platform and provide valuable resources to families in need.

Vist our partnership page to learn more about how we can work together to help prevent missing seniors together. 

Download My Family ID Today

By taking proactive steps and utilizing tools like My Family ID, you can help to prevent your senior loved one from going missing. Download My Family ID today and ensure that your senior’s information is always readily available.