We Begin The New Year
With A New Alliance
 As of January 1, 2008 the Alzheimer’s Association and MedicAlert® have formed an alliance
to improve the safety of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and related
dementias. What is MedicAlert? MedicAlert, a non-profit organization, is driven by its mission to protect
and save lives by providing identification and medical information in emergencies.
MedicAlert
has been in business for over 50 years and is distinguished by its 24-hour emergency response
center staffed by professionally trained agents. As the trusted third-party custodian of
comprehensive personal health information, the MedicAlert staff can provide critical medical
information to first responders around the country, 24 hours a day. MedicAlert has earned the
trust of over 4 million members and the healthcare community worldwide.
The MedicAlert® + Alzheimer’s Association Safe Return® program will provide these
24-hour nationwide emergency response services for anyone having a diagnosis of AD or a
related dementia who wanders.
If an individual with AD or dementia wanders and becomes lost, you can continue to call the
emergency number that was given when you enrolled in the Alzheimer’s Association Safe Return
program, 800-572-1122, or call our new MedicAlert + Safe Return emergency line, 800-625-
3780. Both numbers will direct you to our 24-hour nationwide emergency response line. The
professional staff at MedicAlert + Safe Return will continue to activate a community support
network, including contacting your local Alzheimer’s Association Chapter to help reunite the
family member or caregiver with the person who wandered. With this enhanced service,
critical medical information will be provided to emergency responders when needed.
The Chapter wants to ensure that everyone who needs the protection of the MedicAlert +
Safe Return program is enrolled. Please contact me at 646-744-2918 if the person with dementia
needs financial assistance to pay for enrollment.
Current Safe Return enrollees have three options:
- You can take advantage of creating a personal health record and continue to wear your
Safe Return bracelet.
- You can create a personal health record and order new personally engraved products to
reflect the member’s medical conditions. You will receive a MedicAlert + Alzheimer’s
Association Safe Return identification product, either a necklace or bracelet, as well as a
personal health record which can be updated at any time and is part of a national database
that includes a member’s photo and emergency contact information.
- Enrollees also have the option of making no change. You will continue to receive support
during a wandering incident.
It is not uncommon for a wanderer to require medical attention following an incident. One
of the benefits of MedicAlert + Safe Return allows medical information of the enrollee to be
provided during the time of need. Thank you for taking an important step in ensuring the safety of your friend or relative with
Alzheimer’s or a related dementia.
— Elizabeth Santiago,
Manager, MedicAlert + Safe Return
If you have questions about MedicAlert + Safe Return, contact me at 646.744.2918 or by e-mail at esantiago@alznyc.org.
You may also visit our MedicAlert + Safe Return website.
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