When a loved one with a history of wandering is missing, every second counts in ensuring a positive outcome.
A newly launched partnership between municipal police services and MedicAlert will allow police access to critical information in their search.
Connect Protect, which was launched last week in the province, will provide 24-hour direct secure access into the MedicAlert subscriber database for all 10 municipal police services across Nova Scotia, said Catherine Horlock, MedicAlert Connect Protect Program Director.
“Being able to get this information quickly stops the clock, it saves lives,” she said.
Statistics indicate 17,000 Nova Scotians have dementia (Alzheimer Society of Nova Scotia) and 6 out of 10 individuals dealing with dementia will wander (Alzheimer Society). There are other reasons that someone may wander or have trouble communicating for themselves including cognitive diagnosis, disabilities, mental illness or brain injury.
The new system will make things much easier for the police when they get a report of someone who is lost or wandering.
“After hours it can be hard to get information and this database is monitored 24-7 so if we get a call we can start looking for that person right away,” said Bridgewater Police Chief Scott Feener.
Horlock said that 63 police services across Canada already use the system-which also includes information on behavior management strategies and de-escalation techniques.
“Being a service centre we have a number of care homes in the area so if people are registered in the program it gives us the ability to track them in a timely manner,”said Chief Feener.
The ten municipal police services are Amherst Police, Annapolis Royal Police, Bridgewater Police, Cape Breton Regional Police, Halifax Regional Police, Kentville Police, New Glasgow Police, Stellarton Police, Truro Police and Westville Police.
