Did you know that May is designated as Silver Alert Month in Tennessee? This month is devoted to raising awareness about Silver Alerts – urgent messages spread around the community about missing people. They’re especially used for older adults who might have Alzheimer’s Disease, dementia, or other conditions that affect their thinking.

We call this special time Silver Alert Month. It’s all about making sure more people know about Silver Alerts and how important they are.

You might be surprised to learn that many people with dementia or Alzheimer’s can end up lost. In fact, the Alzheimer’s Association says that 60% to 70% of people with dementia will get lost at least once while they’re dealing with the disease. That’s a lot of people, and it’s why we need to take this issue seriously.

During May, we focus on teaching people about dementia and how to act quickly if someone goes missing. The earlier we spot the signs of dementia, the quicker we can act to keep someone safe. We also want to let everyone know how they can help if they hear a Silver Alert in their area.

Silver Alert Month isn’t just about learning. It’s about reminding all of us that we can be part of helping. By knowing what dementia looks like and what to do when you see a Silver Alert, you can help get a missing person home safely. It takes all of us working together to look out for those who may not be able to look out for themselves. With more and more people living with dementia, it’s really important that we all understand Silver Alerts and know what to do.

Let’s use this month to learn more and help our community. Together, we can make sure that missing people get home safe and sound. That’s good for their families and good for everyone in Tennessee.

If you locate a person who has been identified as missing, call 911 immediately to report their location. Be sure to make note of their location, direction of travel, and make, model, color, and license plate number (if possible) of any vehicle involved.

Click here to learn more and to receive your “Silver Alert Kit.”