LA Found Program has a bracelet that allows you to track family members with Alzheimer's, autism or other cognitive disability
Many people still have to remember the case of Nancy Paulikas, who at the age of 55 suddenly disappeared during a visit with her husband to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) in October 2016.
The woman had already been diagnosed with early symptoms of Alzheimer's.
Two years after the incident, his remains were found 10 miles away from the museum in the Santa Monica Mountains.
Paulikas' disappearance highlighted the need to find a way to track people with mental illness or other cognitive decline.
Thus, through coordination between Los Angeles County and various community agencies, the LA Found initiative was born, a program that offers tracking devices to facilitate the quick location of a loved one in case they get lost.
Its web portal also has educational materials to know how to deal with this emergency.
The program consists of trackable bracelets, under the technology of Project Lifesaver, which have a tracking device. People put them on and cannot remove them unless they are cut, said Cinthie López Paz, human services administrator for the LA Found unit.
The bracelets, or bracelets, are intended for those people in the community diagnosed with Alzheimer's, dementia, autism, or other cognitive disabilities — including some mental illnesses.
Live with ease
María García said that her husband, 78-year-old Adolfo García, has suffered from dementia for three years.
"Yes, it is severe and she has had three attacks already," said the 77-year-old woman.
She says that one day, her daughter found information about the LA Found trackable wristbands program online and requested it.
"I feel that it has helped us a lot because we put it on and (although) then he wants to take it off but he cannot," acknowledged the Alhambra resident.
"We put it (on my husband) when we go out but we are always on the lookout because then he wants to open the doors of the house (to leave)."
Maria recognized that the fact that her husband has the bracelet is a security for her since if he got lost, he only has to call 911.
"Families are only instructed to call 911 and say their relative is part of the Project Lifesaver program and the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department's Mental Assessment Team (MET) and its allies are in charge of finding the person," he explained. LA Found administrator, López Paz.
"And it is very good because one day I went to (the office) of the Medi-Cal and there I saw a number of photos of lost and sad people," added Maria.
It is estimated that there are 60% of people with Alzheimer's and 49% of children with autism wandering at some point in their lives, according to statistics.
Seeking that the program is permanent
López Paz said that for now the pilot program in Los Angeles County has only received funding for three years to see how it works. To the amazement of many this has received good comments, so they hope to extend it.
"We hope to find more financing to make this a permanent program," he said.
The pilot program was approved for funding on February 22, 2018 by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. A report is expected for completion in 2021 to see how successful it was.
The administrator said that the people who apply for the program occur because their relatives have already been diagnosed with a mental or cognitive illness.
"And it is giving them that peace of mind, an added security to the well-being of their relatives," explains López Paz.
So far 550 bracelets have been delivered in Los Angeles County.
And he added that there is no specific income to be eligible and proof of citizenship is not required.
You only need to be a resident of Los Angeles County to apply through the LA Found program.
The LA Found group, originally called Bringing Loved Ones Home (BOLOH), was led by the Department of Workforce Development and the Department of Aging and Community Services (WDACS).
This in collaboration with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD), the Department of Public Social Services (DPSS), the Los Angeles County Commission on Older Adults, among others.
To request a bracelet
Project Lifesaver for your family member for free you can choose to call the LA Found office directly at 1 (833) 569-7651 Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. at 5:00 p.m. or send an email to LAFound@wdacs.lacounty.gov
To refer someone visit: https://lafound.lacounty.gov/project-lifesaver-referral/
