07-21-10 Lifesaving Program Launches In Delaware County
Lifesaving Program Launches In Delaware County
DELAWARE COUNTY, OH – The Delaware County Sheriff’s Office and Council for Older Adults of Delaware County are proud to bring Project Lifesaver to the citizens of Delaware County. Designed to track and rescue those with cognitive impairments, this service answers a critical need for protecting people at risk of wandering, including persons with Alzheimer’s, Autism, Down Syndrome and Dementia.
Sheriff Walter L. Davis stated, “This will help protect some of our most at risk citizens. It will save valuable time and potentially save lives.”
Council for Older Adults’ Associate Director of Client Services, Fara Waugh says “It is frightening when someone with dementia wanders away from home. Anyone who provides care to someone who wanders as a result of cognitive issues knows that time is of the essence in finding them. This technology has proven to reduce the amount of time it takes to find them. We are grateful to Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging for granting us the funds to implement this program in Delaware County. We are also pleased that Sheriff Davis saw the value of this program and agreed to take the lead!”
Members of the media and the public are invited to attend a news conference on July 26 at 2:30 p.m. at the Center for Older Adults, 800 Cheshire Road, Delaware. Reporters will be invited to follow along with first responders as they use new Project Lifesaver equipment to search for a “missing” person in a mock scenario.
The program grant request was written and submitted by the Council for Older Adults with funding provided by the Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging. Other partners involved in providing this valuable service include Senior Citizens Inc. of Delaware County, the Alzheimer’s Association, Delaware County Job and Family Services – Adult Protective Services, Delaware County Board of Developmental Disabilities, Grady Memorial Hospital/OhioHealth, and Delaware County EMS.
Families and caregivers can enroll their loved ones by contacting Lt. Dave Buttler at 740-833-2805. For more information, please contact the Sheriff’s Office or consult www.projectlifesaver.org
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