The Alzheimer’s Association Safe Return® program assists in the safe and timely return of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias who wander and become lost. Based on a program developed at the New York City Chapter and with financial support from the United States Department of Justice, the Alzheimer’s Association launched Safe Return in April 1993. It is a nationwide program working at the community level. Safe Return has expanded its outreach and enrollment in New York City thanks to generous funding from the New York City Council over the past two years.

As the Manager of NYC’s Alzheimer’s Association Safe Return program, it has been an honor to work with some of the finest men and women in the New York City Police Department. Two individuals stand out:

During the 23rd Annual National Night Out in August 2006,we had the pleasure of working with Community Affairs, Explorer Advisor, Police Officer Warren Thompson from the 46th Precinct in the Bronx. On that evening,we briefed Officer Thompson on Alzheimer’s Association Safe Return. The program provides New Yorkers with dementia and their caregivers with identification materials, and stores their contact information on a national computerized database. If a person wanders, police officers, community service agency staff and private citizens have the ability to easily identify him or her and ensure a safe return to the family.

Officer Thompson’s outreach in Community Board 5, which includes Fordham, University Heights, Morris Heights, Bathgate, and the Mount Hope sections of the Bronx led to record registration in an underserved borough. I would like to take this opportunity to say THANK YOU Officer Thompson for your dedication and commitment to ensure that families needing the resources of Safe Return are registered in the program.

Over the past five years, the NYC Alzheimer’s community has truly been privileged to work with Detective Terry Daniels from the New York City Police Department Missing Persons Unit. His dedication, professionalism, compassion and attention to detail have resulted in the safe return of scores of people with dementia who wandered and became lost.

On Thanksgiving weekend in 2006 Detective Terry Daniels responded to a missing person incident involving a 71 year-old man who was reported missing for over 72 hours from a nursing home in upper Manhattan. Thankfully he was found unharmed and returned to the nursing home. Detective Daniels met with the director of the security department and encouraged him to contact Safe Return to register all residents diagnosed with AD and dementia. His influence led to the enrollment of over 100 residents in this nursing home and hundreds more throughout the five boroughs. His teamwork with fellow officers from precincts all over the city has helped us educate the police force about the importance of the Safe Return program.

We are delighted and honored that Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly will be presenting Detective Daniels with the Alzheimer’s Association, New York City Chapter’s first “Public Service” Award at the Opening Ceremonies of Memory Walk 2007 on Sunday, October 21st at Riverside Park. We invite you to join us in honoring Detective Terry Daniels and thanking the many dedicated Police Officers throughout the City who have saved many lives through our Safe Return program over the past 15 years.

— Elizabeth Santiago,
Manager, Safe Return

For more information about Alzheimer’s Association Safe Return® or the New York City Council Grant, please call Elizabeth Santiago at 646-744-2918 or click here.

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