2022 Reducing Injury and Death of Missing Individuals with Dementia and Developmental Disabilities

The purpose of this program is to ensure safety, reduce incidents of injury and death due to wandering of residents who suffer from dementia and developmental disabilities. Additionally, the focus includes recognizing and responding appropriately to these individuals, facilitating the rescue/recovery of our residents who wander from safe environments and creating public awareness and outreach programs. 

To achieve these goals, the Sunrise Police Department, (SPD), will partner with community stakeholders including, Sunrise Senior Center, the City’s Social Worker, ARC Broward, the Alzheimer’s Association and The Bridge Outreach. (see application attachments). These organizations will provide educational speakers/seminars, distribute program information, provide referrals, and promote our initiative and assist with community outreach regarding education and awareness. These stakeholders allow us to work cooperatively with residents and organizations in an effort to improve community education and outreach and create a direct link to individuals and families of individuals with forms of dementia and developmental disabilities.

In 2016 SPD received grant funding through DOJ launching the Community Alzheimer’s Resource & Education Program, CARE, which was designed to increase Alzheimer’s awareness throughout the community, provide residents with education and resources needed to reduce the risks of wandering associated with Alzheimer’s and to better respond to its challenges.  Project Lifesaver, a nationwide project, became an intricate part of this program. As part of SPD’s new program initiative, it is our intention to continue offering support for reducing the risk of injury and death of missing individuals living with dementia, but also incorporate individuals with developmental disabilities.

 If awarded, SPD proposes to enhance this program by purchasing and integrating new innovative locative technology and equipment aimed at preventing wandering. Within our initiative, we will provide more comprehensive and detailed public awareness notifications though various social media platforms focused on expanding outreach and educational programs for individuals with dementia and developmental disabilities. 

Lastly, based on the 2020 U.S. Census, the City of Sunrise has a large population of residents who are deemed part of an “underserved community” consistent with Executive Order 13985 term definition. SPD’s objective is to promote our program by prioritizing our underserved community and reaching out to specific geographical areas and neighborhoods. This emphasis will strengthen community safety, build trust between law enforcement and the community and promote racial equality with the removal of barriers providing greater access to services for the communities that have been historically underserved. (See pages 3,4,5,7,8, &10 regarding priority consideration).