It was cold and dark as the clock struck 4:00 a.m. An autistic man in his 60s had gone missing from his home. A search party was dispatched, but he was nowhere to be found.
Tom Oliver, Volunteer Coordinator for Project Lifesaver and former member of Whatcom County Search and Rescue, followed a radio signal from the man’s bracelet. It indicated that he was inside a house, likely on the second floor. Oliver knocked on the door to wake the sleeping homeowner.
The resident answered the door holding a small, barking dog who was very upset about the early morning wake-up. The homeowner said it was impossible for someone to be in his home; he and his family had been there all night. They’d actually locked up their home at 9:30 p.m. the evening before.
When asked to take a look, the homeowner excused himself. He returned white-faced and bewildered.
Somehow, the missing individual had slipped into the house, past the family and noisy dog. He’d gone upstairs without anyone noticing. He was sleeping peacefully in the spare bedroom.
This story could easily have had a different ending. Thanks to Project Lifesaver, the man was returned home safely, and wasn’t harmed when a fearful homeowner found a stranger in his house.
Project Lifesaver is a phenomenal program offered by Dementia Support Northwest, formerly known as The Alzheimer Society of Washington. “A plastic locator slides onto a nylon hospital bracelet that snaps on and can’t be removed without scissors,” says Oliver, who runs the program for the organization on a volunteer basis.
“We use radio instead of GPS and cell phones,” he says. “It works better and can be found [in] more locations.”
Oliver is the first to be called – at all hours – when a participant goes missing. Using radio frequency allows locators to see exactly where the person is in a building. This especially comes in handy if the person is in a high rise or apartment building.
“Radio frequency is always transmitting,” says Jan Higman, executive director of Dementia Support Northwest. “You don’t have to turn it on or turn it off. You can get the signal in a building, in the woods – Tom has even tested it underwater.”
Project Lifesaver works alongside the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office. Both have staff with dementia-specific training and know how to make patients feel comfortable and safe.
“This program is important because a result of dementia is that people have a tendency to wander,” says Higman. And they’re often meandering in the middle of the night.
“Typically, when a person reaches a stage in the progression where wandering becomes an issue, they also have some limited mobility and communication skills,” Higman says. “So, just calling out to someone, they won’t be able to respond.
“A lot of times, they’ll fall into a ditch or somewhere they can’t readily be seen. You might be calling [the missing person’s name] and he can probably hear you, but he’s not able to respond.”
This was the case a few years ago when a man wandered through Fairhaven and was found two weeks later caught in blackberry bushes. He was located where a search party had already been.
“The average for a normal search-and-rescue for someone with dementia is 18 hours or so,” Higman says. “With a Lifesaver bracelet, it’s on average about 30 minutes. It really reduces the time that someone is out there and exposed. The longer that someone goes missing, the harder it is to find them.”
Caring for Alzheimer’s patients is astronomically expensive, and many people keep their loved ones home longer and longer. But worrying about a parent going missing is stressful. Fortunately, Project Lifesaver offers an alternative.
The program also works for participants with autism, Down syndrome, traumatic brain injuries or anyone suffering from cognitive issues or decline. These populations have a tendency to wander from homes at all hours.
Bracelets cost $300 initially and $45 every two months to replace the batteries. While more affordable than some options, this can still be cost prohibitive for families.
“Our mission as an organization is to try to offer our programs at no cost or at minimal cost so they can afford to be part of the program,” Higman says. “Having more donations so we can purchase more bracelets would be tremendous for us, the caregivers and their loved one, too.”
- If you’re interested in donating to this worthy cause, please visit their site.
- Come out to the 8th annual An Affair to Remember on March 9, 2019, at the Bellingham Golf and Country Club. Tickets are on sale now for the masquerade gala, which includes dinner, wine, dancing, raffles, games, and a live and silent auction.
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