Lost & Found in NYC

In our last newsletter we discussed the importance of the Alzheimer’s Association Safe Return® program for people who have Alzheimer’s and related dementias and reside in nursing homes and other residential care facilities. In this issue we bring you a true story that reinforces the importance of Safe Return for residents of care facilities.

On a recent trip, residents from the nursing home were gathered in front of the museum and placed in groups, each with a group leader. It was a very busy day at the museum with many tourists and other groups waiting to enter. For 80 year old Mrs. Harper*, one of the nursing home residents diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, this trip was particularly confusing. There was a lot of stimulation which led to her feeling lost in a sea of people. Mrs. Harper followed the group of people in front of her who were moving up the steps towards the museum entrance. Mrs. Harper didn’t realize she was following the wrong group. Kathy, a nursing home staff member and the leader of Mrs. Harper’s group, began counting each of her group members as they entered the museum doors. She noticed that Mrs. Harper was missing. Kathy grew frantic as she realized it had been about 15 minutes since she last saw Mrs. Harper. She immediately informed the other group leaders and notified the museum security department. They took immediate action. They searched the museum as well as nearby areas for Mrs. Harper. Kathy called 911 and the nursing home. She spoke to one of the nurses, Mrs. Johnson, who remembered that Mrs. Harper was enrolled in the Safe Return program. Thanks to a grant from the New York City Council everyone with a diagnosis of dementia in the facility had been enrolled in the program. Mrs. Johnson called the Safe Return 24-hour emergency number and reported that Mrs. Harper was missing. Thankfully, Mrs. Harper was wearing her Safe Return identification bracelet.

Safe Return national staff responded immediately by calling the local chapter in New York City. The NYC Chapter Safe Return staff sent a “Missing Persons” report to all hospitals and NYPD precincts throughout the five boroughs. Chapter Safe Return staff also provided support to the nursing home staff by keeping them informed and reassuring them that Safe Return staff was doing everything possible to help find Mrs. Harper.

Three hours later we received a phone call that informed us that Mrs. Harper had been brought to a nearby hospital. She was found by a “Good Samaritan” who had noticed that Mrs. Harper appeared confused. Once in the hospital, Mrs. Harper was unable to give her name or address. Mrs. Rivera, a social worker, remembered that just a couple of hours ago she had received a fax from the Alzheimer’s Association, New York City Chapter about a missing person. Mrs. Harper fit the description. Upon further inspection, Mrs. Rivera noticed that the confused, elderly woman was wearing her Safe Return ID bracelet. She realized that this Jane Doe was actually Mrs. Harper, who had been reported missing from the museum. Mrs. Rivera called the toll free Safe Return number, which then enabled Mrs. Harper’s return to her nursing home. The NYC Safe Return staff sent a “Found Persons” report to alert everyone who received the earlier fax that Mrs. Harper had been found and was safe. We followed up shortly after with the nursing home to make sure that Mrs. Harper was doing well.

This story not only speaks volumes about the importance of enrolling nursing home residents in the Safe Return program, but also for families and caregivers in the community. It also demonstrates the outcome of a quick response by the Chapter staff to a missing person—sending “Lost Patient Bulletins” to all hospitals and other emergency responders throughout the five boroughs. These important bulletins could make the difference between persons with dementia being returned quickly to their homes—or spending hours, days or weeks away from their families and caregivers. It is crucial for nursing home and assisted living staff to make sure their residents wear their Safe Return ID products at all times, especially when they are away from the residence.

— Niurqui Imbert,
Safe Return Community Outreach Associate

* To protect the privacy of this individual the names and details of this situation have been changed.

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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