HARTFORD—Rep. Terrie Wood last week threw her support behind an alert system designed to help find senior citizens and disabled adults who go missing. The bill creating a “Silver Alert” system received unanimous approval. The senate had already approved the legislation, which now goes to the governor for signature.
Finding adults with dementia, Alzheimer’s disease and other diagnosed mental disabilities if they wander away or disappear is the system’s goal.
It’s modeled after the Amber Alert system used to build publicity about missing children. Components include broadcasting emergency messages on radio stations.
“In these cases, when people wander away from their caregivers or family members, time is of the essence,” said Wood, who represents Darien and Rowayton.
“We need to give local and state law enforcement agencies every advantage when it comes to finding the most vulnerable people among us,” she said.
More than a dozen states have Silver Alert programs and legislatures in several other states have them under consideration.
Rep. Terrie Wood represents the 141st General Assembly District covering Darien and Rowayton. She serves on the following legislative committees: Education; Environment and Appropriations.
