It was an inquiry from the Director of the Salem County Office of the Disabled that first alerted me to an important program in Cape May County. She called to ask if Project Lifesaver was active in our area. As I have since learned, this program is operating in all 21 counties of New Jersey, making our state (to its great credit) totally subscribed to the Project. The program operates through the Sheriff’s Office in each community.
Project Lifesaver is a non-profit international organization, based in Chesapeake, Virginia, whose mission is to protect patients who wander due to conditions such as Alzheimer’s and autism.
A partnership is established with local law enforcement and public safety organizations that enables an innovative rapid response to locate wandering patients before they fall victim to accidents, the elements, or predators. Since 1999, Sheriff’s Officers trained through Project Lifesaver have conducted more than 1800 searches for missing people, and all those people have been found alive and without serious injuries. Search times average less than 30 minutes once the search team arrives at the scene.
People enrolled in the Project Lifesaver program wear an individualized wristband with a unique radio frequency. This battery-operated wrist transmitter emits an automatic tracking signal that can be detected on the ground or in the air over several miles. Each local Police Department is given a list of the Project’s clients in their community and procedures for contacting the Sheriff’s Office when a client is reported missing. At that point, a specially trained rescue team is dispatched to locate the wanderer and return him or her to the family or caregiver.
Project Lifesaver rescue teams receive special training that goes beyond the use of the electronic tracking equipment. Often the person who is located may be anxious, disoriented and untrusting. So the Project’s team members learn how to approach an individual with Alzheimer’s or autism, establish trust and guide him or her calmly to safety. Team members, too, establish rapport with their clients by monthly visits during which the wrist devices are checked and new batteries are provided.
In Cape May County, Project Lifesaver currently has 19 clients. The program is offered free to county residents. A small portion of the total cost of the program ($300 per device and approximately $15 per month maintenance for each) comes from the sheriff’s office budget. The rest is funded by donations from individuals, civic organizations, and fundraising events. The need for this program is expected to grow dramatically over the next few years, as our society grapples with the challenges of Alzheimer’s and autism.
Sheriff’s Officer Paul Shelton (609-465-6831) is the person in our county to call if you would like more information on Project Lifesaver, or if you would like to make a donation, or to enroll a loved one in the program. Officer Shelton is also very willing to speak to groups about the Project and how it works in our community. Information may also be found on the Cape May County Sheriff’s Office website: www.cmcsheriff.net.
Did you know?
• Governor Christie’s plan to close the $2 billion budget gap in fiscal year 2010 will include about $71 million in cuts within the Department of Human Services. These cuts will be effective immediately.
• Federal Bill HR4429, introduced by US Rep. John Adler, would attempt to offset the lack of a cost-of-living adjustment in Social Security payments this year to senior citizens and disabled veterans. It would authorize a one-time payment of $250 to be included in one of the recipients’ monthly checks. This payment would be funded through unassigned funds made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
Pierson is the Coordinator of the Cape May County Office of Disability Services
Does Someone You Love Need Project Lifesaver?
By Paulanne Pierson
It was an inquiry from the Director of the Salem County Office of the Disabled that first alerted me to an important program in Cape May County. She called to ask if Project Lifesaver was active in our area. As I have since learned, this program is operating in all 21 counties of New Jersey, making our state (to its great credit) totally subscribed to the Project. The program operates through the Sheriff’s Office in each community.
Project Lifesaver is a non-profit international organization, based in Chesapeake, Virginia, whose mission is to protect patients who wander due to conditions such as Alzheimer’s and autism.
A partnership is established with local law enforcement and public safety organizations that enables an innovative rapid response to locate wandering patients before they fall victim to accidents, the elements, or predators. Since 1999, Sheriff’s Officers trained through Project Lifesaver have conducted more than 1800 searches for missing people, and all those people have been found alive and without serious injuries. Search times average less than 30 minutes once the search team arrives at the scene.
People enrolled in the Project Lifesaver program wear an individualized wristband with a unique radio frequency. This battery-operated wrist transmitter emits an automatic tracking signal that can be detected on the ground or in the air over several miles. Each local Police Department is given a list of the Project’s clients in their community and procedures for contacting the Sheriff’s Office when a client is reported missing. At that point, a specially trained rescue team is dispatched to locate the wanderer and return him or her to the family or caregiver.
Project Lifesaver rescue teams receive special training that goes beyond the use of the electronic tracking equipment. Often the person who is located may be anxious, disoriented and untrusting. So the Project’s team members learn how to approach an individual with Alzheimer’s or autism, establish trust and guide him or her calmly to safety. Team members, too, establish rapport with their clients by monthly visits during which the wrist devices are checked and new batteries are provided.
In Cape May County, Project Lifesaver currently has 19 clients. The program is offered free to county residents. A small portion of the total cost of the program ($300 per device and approximately $15 per month maintenance for each) comes from the sheriff’s office budget. The rest is funded by donations from individuals, civic organizations, and fundraising events. The need for this program is expected to grow dramatically over the next few years, as our society grapples with the challenges of Alzheimer’s and autism.
Sheriff’s Officer Paul Shelton (609-465-6831) is the person in our county to call if you would like more information on Project Lifesaver, or if you would like to make a donation, or to enroll a loved one in the program. Officer Shelton is also very willing to speak to groups about the Project and how it works in our community. Information may also be found on the Cape May County Sheriff’s Office website: www.cmcsheriff.net.
Did you know?
• Governor Christie’s plan to close the $2 billion budget gap in fiscal year 2010 will include about $71 million in cuts within the Department of Human Services. These cuts will be effective immediately.
• Federal Bill HR4429, introduced by US Rep. John Adler, would attempt to offset the lack of a cost-of-living adjustment in Social Security payments this year to senior citizens and disabled veterans. It would authorize a one-time payment of $250 to be included in one of the recipients’ monthly checks. This payment would be funded through unassigned funds made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
Pierson is the Coordinator of the Cape May County Office of Disability Services
Article taken from the Cape May County Herald