Rep. Kennedy January Editorial: “Protecting those with Alzheimer’s”

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

I want to wish you all a happy and healthy New Year! Before we get caught up in preparing for the 2024 Legislative Session which begins on February 7^th, I want to take this opportunity to share a newly developed program that hits home for me and for many of us.

In December, the Alzheimer’s Association Connecticut Chapter partnered with the CT State Police to create the “Bring Me Back Home” (BMBH) registry. The goal: locate and return any missing or wandering residents who suffer from Alzheimer’s Disease.

Alzheimer’s Disease predominantly affects our seniors, and as a person who currently cares for a loved one with Alzheimer’s, this condition requires intense care especially with an increased potential for those with dementia to wander. As stated in their site, wandering can be extremely dangerous, and most often, life threatening.

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, 6 in 10 people living with dementia will wander. The reality is that Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia often cause people to lose their cognitive recognition ability, meaning they struggle to identify familiar faces or places. Sadly, most records show that those not found within 24 hours are more likely to suffer serious injury, or even death

Thankfully, through the BMBH registry, law enforcement will now have shared access to information to assist in the relocation of missing CT residents with Alzheimer’s, and other cognitive challenges. In collaboration with the COLLECT criminal justice and safety program, the registry will confidentially compile resident identities, including hobbies, workplaces, and former addresses, to allow police to respond to missing person calls swiftly and effectively.

It is imperative that we support the seniors in our community who are affected with cognitive challenges and through this program we can continue to do just that. I want to personally thank all our healthcare workers, law enforcement officers, and dedicated family members who work hard to maintain a good quality of life for those living with these conditions.

Both the State Police and the Alzheimer’s Association recommend that families register loved ones who are affected by these conditions, even if they feel wandering may not occur. To register your loved one today, please visit: ct.gov/BMBH.

Our seniors represent the backbone of our communities, and it is our responsibility to care for those who once cared for us. My office is always open for questions concerning this, or any other programs that support our Connecticut seniors. Please never hesitate to contact me at Kathy.Kennedy@housegop.ct.gov or call me at 860-240-8700.