Safely Home Turns Ten

A decade of helping people with Alzheimer's disease

Leslie Barrans slipped away from his care facility several times between 2000 and 2004. "I would get the call at work, telling me that Dad had gone missing," says Elizabeth Healy. "It's very upsetting. Not only was I extremely worried about him, but there was the added stress of being called away from work," adds Elizabeth who was an operating room nurse at the time. "Safely Home™ made a real difference." Safely Home -- Alzheimer Wandering Registry is marking its tenth anniversary of assisting police and caregivers when someone with the disease goes missing. Today there are more than 19,000 Canadians registered in the program.

[Note: The number of people registered as of May 1, 2006 is over 23,000.]

Safely Home was launched across Canada in 1995 by the Alzheimer Society of Canada in collaboration with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Health Canada and the Solicitor General. For a one-time fee of $25 the person's information -- including personal history, physical characteristics and places they are likely to visit -- is entered into a confidential database that police throughout North America can access. [Note: The registration fee for Safely Home was changed to $35 on April 1, 2006.] An identification bracelet and wallet cards are provided to the person with Alzheimer's disease along with a Caregiver Handbook for the family. A registration number and the words "Memory Loss Call Police" are on the bracelet.

It was this bracelet that identified Leslie Barrans and helped him get home safely. "On one occasion my father was found asleep on the railroad tracks," exclaims Healy. Another time he was sitting in the park, in the pouring rain." On both of these occasions, he was found by someone passing by. They followed the instructions on his bracelet, and called police.

People with Alzheimer's disease sometimes lose the ability to recognize familiar places and to remember their own name or address. It is estimated that up to 60 per cent of people with Alzheimer's disease will become lost outside their home. "This is an important issue for families," says Stephen Rudin, executive director of the Alzheimer Society of Canada. "People with Alzheimer's disease may not recognize common dangers such as traffic or exposure to the elements. They may also have other health concerns that require regular medication. The longer they're missing, the greater the risk. Time is an important factor in getting them home safely."

"The greatest benefit of the Safely Home program," according to Donna Watson-Elliott, Manager of the Ottawa Police Victims Crisis Unit, "is that it gives us immediate information about the person, a description, and any details about their patterns. If a person is registered, we can access the database and get useful information out to our network fast. We're seeing an increase in this type of incident. Now if someone isn't registered we take the time to follow up with a letter and information on Safely Home. We want people to know about this program."

People with Alzheimer's disease don't usually set out aimlessly; there are numerous factors that contribute to a person's need to be on the move. These can include frustration, a physical need that they aren't able to express such as hunger or pain or they may be trying to recreate a former routine such as going to work.

Elizabeth Healy's father is now 90 years old. His deteriorating health means that leaving the facility is no longer as great a concern. Still, he remains registered in Safely Home. "It's all about peace of mind," says Healy.

Alzheimer's disease is a progressive, degenerative disease that destroys vital brain cells. A person's ability to think, remember, speak and even perform simple tasks will be affected. The Alzheimer Society works nationwide to improve the quality of life for Canadians affected by Alzheimer's disease and to advance the search for the cause and cure. To find out more or to register in Safely Home our office at 905-687-3914.