Photo courtesy of © Can Stock Photo Inc. / LighthunterPhoto courtesy of © Can Stock Photo Inc. / Lighthunter
Sarnia

Residents encouraged to register loved ones with dementia

Statistics show that at some point, three out of five people with dementia will go missing. If they're not found within 24 hours, half of them will suffer an injury.

Alzheimers Society of Sarnia-Lambton spokesperson Ann McLean said OPP are creating a Vulnerable Persons Registry.

A registration session will be held at the Lambton Shores Arena on Thursday, November 22 from 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

"About 89 per cent of the people with dementia that are lost, they'll be found within 1.6 kilometres of the point they were last seen," said McLean. "The police say to us we want to be called right away if someone goes missing, because sometimes people will wait for an hour and try and find them, they want to be called immediately."

Almost half of the children with Autism try to leave a safe environment and most are unable to communicate their name or address, so the registry is good for them as well.

You're asked to bring along a recent photo of your loved one.

The information will be secure and private, and will only be used should the person go missing.

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