26 « December « 2009 « Missing Alzheimer's, Dementia & Autism Research

26Dec/090

Daniel Schmidt Missing

Nassau police have issued a Silver Alert to help find an 81-year-old North Bellmore man.

Daniel Schmidt, who suffers from dementia, was last seen at his Locust Avenue home at 9 a.m. on Wednesday morning.

He is described as a white man, 6’3” tall, 160 lbs. with brown eyes, white straight hair, a light complexion, white beard and mustache. It is unknown what he was wearing.

He was driving a brown 2002 Cadillac with a license plate number AYP1942.

The recently enacted Silver Alert Program was established to disseminate information quickly to local media, hospitals and other organizations when a senior citizen or other individuals suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, dementia or other cognitive disorders goes missing.

Filed under: New York No Comments

26Dec/090

Juan Vasquez, 86, Missing

A search is underway for a senior citizen suffering from Alzheimer's Disease who went missing today, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

Juan Vasquez, 86, walked away from his family's home at 8626 Prince Ave. in an unincorporated area of Los Angeles County, said Sgt. Robert Furman.

Vasquez is 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighs between 160 and 180 pounds.

He was last seen wearing a brown jacket over a white t-shirt and grey sweat pants.

Vasquez shuffles when he walks,' Furman added.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Century Station at (323) 568-4800.

Filed under: California No Comments

26Dec/091

Morris Schiffman Found

Police located 79-year-old Morris Schiffman this morning and are working to reunite him with his family.

Schiffman, who family members say suffers from dementia, was last seen December 18th at a Panama City bank.

Eugene Gardner of Ozark says Schiffman stopped by his garage the next day and told him he was going to Birmingham.

That information helped authorities find Schiffman.

Eugene Gardner said, "he would in a few minutes he'd be right there with you and know where he was at and then just a few seconds later he wouldn't know he'd talk about the Korean war or something different from what we were doing."

Gardner last saw Schiffman Saturday just after 5:30 p.m.

Filed under: Alabama 1 Comment

26Dec/090

136 Silver Alerts issued in system’s 1st year

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Since the statewide Silver Alert program began last fall, 136 alerts have been issued for missing Florida seniors, authorities said.

Silver Alerts began in October 2008 after Gov. Charlie Crist signed an executive order to establish the system that helps find missing seniors with mental impairments such as dementia and Alzheimer's. The alerts also can be used to help locate missing younger adults suffering from cognitive disorders.

The system has been used to locate persons from 54 to 94, said Florida Department of Law Enforcement spokesman Mike Morrison.

The FDLE disseminates a blast of alerts to the public through local law enforcement agencies, media outlets and along roadside and interstate electronic message boards.

There have been 136 Silver Alerts issued statewide as of Monday. An average of 11 Silver Alerts are issued per month.

To compare, Amber Alerts issued for endangered children have totaled about 150 during that program's nine-year run.

At least five seniors statewide were found dead after being reported missing since the program was launched, Morrison said. At least one adult in a Silver Alert case was found in South Carolina.

"The Silver Alert is one of those resources you hope you never have to use, but when you do need it, it is a tremendous safety net for the elders covered by the alert," said Jon Peck, communications director for the state's department of elder affairs.

Demand for the system could increase in years to come. Peck's department projects the state's population of elders over the age of 85 to grow at a rate of 118 percent through 2020. It's the fastest growing age demographic in the state, Peck said.

There are an estimated 502,000 seniors in Florida with Alzheimer's and more than 115,000 Floridians diagnosed with dementia, officials said. They can wander and forget how to return home.

Enlisting motorists and the community to help in these missing persons cases is crucial, authorities said. About 15 percent of the state's total cases were resolved due to alert motorists and tipsters, records show.

According to a report by the National Association of State Units on Aging released in November, Florida is one of 18 states with a Silver Alert or similar program in place, and 14 other states had pending legislation for a similar system.