Introduction

Knowing personal safety measures are available can bring piece of mind to persons with Alzheimer's and their caregivers. Because of the unpredictable course of Alzheimer's disease, family responsibilities can include making important decisions and managing changes in a loved one's behavior.

Wandering and MedicAlert® + Alzheimer's Association Safe Return®

The Alzheimer's Association, with financial support from the U.S. Department of Justice, developed the MedicAlert® + Alzheimer's Association Safe Return®, a nationwide emergency response program that provides help when a person with dementia wanders or has a medical emergency. MedicAlert + Safe Return provides identification products for memory-impaired people, including engraved ID jewelry, a 24-hour emergency response hotline, registration in a national database, a personal health record, access to law enforcement agencies across the United States and connections to Alzheimer's Association chapters throughout the country.

Our position

The Alzheimer's Association urges Congress to continue funding at the current level of $900,000 to help support efforts to expand the program and to incorporate new technologies to assure the safety of persons with Alzheimer's disease and peace-of-mind for their caregivers.

The Alzheimer's Association also advocates for MedicAlert + Safe Return legislation and funding at the state level. Legislative resolutions in various states have honored the MedicAlert + Safe Return program for its outstanding efforts.

For more information, see: MedicAlert + Safe Return

Driving and dementia

Many associate the privilege of driving with personal freedom and independence. It is widely accepted that a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease is not, on its own, a sufficient reason to withdraw driving privileges. But what happens to the person with the disease when his or her cognitive abilities ultimately decline to the point that driving restriction or cessation becomes necessary?

Ideally, the person with the disease will recognize they are no longer able to drive and will make the decision to give up the car keys on their own. However, if the person with Alzheimer's is not cognitively able to make that decision, and continues to drive unsafely, family members are often forced to step in and make tough decisions. This can be a stressful position for a family.

What we are doing

Families and policymakers frequently request advice and counsel from the Alzheimer's Association on issues related to driving and the implications for people with dementia. In order to address such requests, and in response to chapters seeking guidance for advocacy and helpline programs, the Alzheimer's Association developed an official position statement on dementia and driving. 
 View policy statement (1 page)

At the state level, Alzheimer advocates have supported the development of transportation alternatives and have been directly involved in working with Motor Vehicle Departments to develop and publish driving brochures, participating in legislative Advisory Committees for Driving and focusing on educational campaigns related to driving and dementia.