Palm Beach County's Reducing Injury and Death of Missing Individuals with Dementia and Developmental Disabilities Collaborative Strategy

The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (PBSO) project will increase Palm Beach County’s capacity to reduce injury and death of missing individuals with dementia and developmental disabilities. There are several key factors unique to Palm Beach County (PBC) which directly impact search and rescue of this vulnerable population. An estimated 25% (382,500) of Palm Beach County’s population is 65 years and over, a demographic for which dementia is most common. Additionally, 18.6% (284,580) are under the age of 18, an age group for which 1 in 36 children is estimated to have autism spectrum disorder. PBC is the second largest county in Florida, with 413 square miles underwater. The significant number of canals, lakes, waterways, and Atlantic Ocean coastline, requires search and rescue to locate missing individuals as quickly as possible to prevent drowning. Extreme temperatures increase vulnerability to dehydration, sun poisoning, heart attack, and stroke. Despite these significant risks, only 334 persons are enrolled in a personal tracking device program. The discrepancy between need and enrollment may be based on community awareness and/or financial resources, including the purchase of tracking equipment for families and related equipment and training for law enforcement. The PBSO is the lead law enforcement agency in Palm Beach County (PBC), serving approximately 950,000 residents. Over the past three years, PBSO has conducted 156 search and rescue missions for missing individuals with dementia and developmental disabilities. Most were not equipped with a personal tracking device (PTD) which required extensive search and rescue efforts. The PBSO proposes to increase public awareness of missing persons with dementia and developmental disabilities, including their propensity to wander. The PBSO will collaborate with Project Lifesaver and community organizations to provide PTDs for vulnerable persons and refer caregivers to community support. The PBSO will enhance the search and rescue response system through training for law enforcement officers and providing readily available tracking equipment throughout PBC. This comprehensive approach will reduce injury and death of missing individuals with dementia and developmental disabilities.