Sheriff office receives Project Lifesaver grant
BALLSTON SPA, N.Y. >> The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) awarded a $5,000 grant to the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office to fund its Project Lifesaver program, which provides safety technology to families caring for a loved one with a dementia-related illness who are prone to wandering.
Wandering is a common and potentially dangerous behavior among individuals with a dementia-related illness, as well as cognitive disorders such as autism. Someone with a dementia-related illness or cognitive condition who wanders can quickly become disoriented, unable to return to safety or not know how, or who, to call for help.
The Project Lifesaver program allows caregivers to voluntarily register their relative with dementia or autism to wear a small wrist or ankle transmitter that emits an individualized tracking signal.
If that person goes missing, the caregiver notifies the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office, who can quickly respond to the wanderer’s location. Project Lifesaver technology reduces the average search and rescue time from hours, or even days, to minutes.
Sheriff Michael Zurlo from the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office expressed his gratitude for the funding:
“With acceptance of this grant, we want caregivers to know the Sheriff’s office is here for you and will continue to provide the technology for families of those in need.”
Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr., President and CEO of the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America
acknowledged the important role the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office plays in the initiative to keep all members of the community safe.
“The Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office’s Project Lifesaver program is a valuable public safety tool for families affected by Alzheimer’s disease,” he said “Every family caregiver’s number one priority is keeping their loved one safe. We’re pleased to help the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office provide them with an additional resource to do that.”
The grant funding will allow the Sheriff’s Office to purchase additional transmitters and equipment so that more families can be served.
Funding will also be used to provide enhanced search and rescue training to officers, and expand outreach, making sure that the community is aware of the program.
Families can voluntarily enroll in the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office Project Lifesaver program by calling the office at 518-885-6761.
Those with questions about caring for a loved one with a dementia-related illness can call the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America’s Helpline at 866232-8484 or visit www.alzfdn.org.