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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Bill DeWeese |
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DeWeese favors Senior Alert System for missing, endangered adults
HARRISBURG, March 17 – State Rep. Bill DeWeese, D-Greene/Fayette/Washington, is co-sponsoring legislation that would establish a Senior Alert System to aid in the location of missing adults who are afflicted with mental illness, mental retardation, dementia or other physical or mental incapacities.
House Bill 122, which is currently before the House Committee on Aging and Older Adult Services, would create an "endangered adult medical alert" indicating that law enforcement authorities are searching for a missing and endangered adult.
While the legislation pertains to anyone over age 18 who is reported missing and is incapable of returning to their residence because of one of the aforementioned conditions, DeWeese said it is particularly pertinent when it comes to safeguarding senior citizens.
"May of us have parents, grandparents or other relatives living in assisted living, personal care or nursing homes," DeWeese said. "If any of them becomes ‘lost’ – due to circumstance, or medical conditions such as dementia or Alzheimer’s disease – location time is critical to their well-being. That’s why a Senior Alert System makes so much common sense."
The legislation would require the Pennsylvania State Police to establish and maintain an alert system to assist in the recovery of missing endangered adults, through prompt notification to the general public and appropriate law enforcement authorities. It would work similarly to the Amber Alerts commonly used to locate missing children.
"By notifying the community at large about any missing adult who fits one of these categories, authorities can instantaneously cast a wider search net and greatly enhance the chances of that person being returned home unharmed," DeWeese said. "Families who have relatives in this position have enough to worry about; they deserve anything we can due to minimize their additional stress in a time of crisis."