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	Franklin County, Kansas, USA

2009-11-07

2009-11-04

2009-11-05

Agriculture

Lifestyles

Tuesday, April 28, 2009 12:43 PM

Safe Return program returns

By BRIAN WILLIAMS, Herald Staff Writer

It can be an unsettling feeling: you’re lost and disoriented. Or maybe a loved one is missing.

Help is available for senior citizens 60 and older, who suffer from Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia and may become lost.

The East Central Kansas Area Agency on Aging is sponsoring an enrollment for the Alzheimer’s Association Safe Return Program from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday at the agency’s office, 132 S. Main St., Ottawa, and at the Garnett Public Library, 125 W. Fourth St.

The nationwide identification program has reunited 13,000 people with their caregivers since its inception in 1993, Phyllis Tillinghast of the aging agency said.

Nationwide, 5.3 million people are living with Alzheimer’s and that is only one of 70 kinds of dementia, Tillinghast said.

The program provides an identification bracelet or pendant, which will be sent to the caregiver in four to six weeks.

The enrollment form includes basic information like name, address, telephone number, social security number, date of birth, height and weight, physical description, medical conditions and more. Information will be gathered about the primary caregiver, who will be listed as the contact person.

“It looks like a bracelet you wear for any medical condition,” Tillinghast said.

Caregivers do not need to bring the person to be enrolled, but will need to bring a recent photograph and wrist measurement.

During the Friday enrollment period, the $49.95 enrollment will be covered by the agency, Tillinghast said.

Last year about 20 people took advantage of the free enrollment period, she said.

For more information call the East Central Kansas Area Agency on Aging at (785) 242-7200 or (800) 633-5621.

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Safe Return program returns

By BRIAN WILLIAMS, Herald Staff Writer

E-mail this story to a friend | Print this article | Enjoy the convenience of home delivery of The Ottawa Herald.

E-mail this story to a friend | Print this article |
Enjoy the convenience of home delivery of The Ottawa Herald.