1. Project Lifesaver of Greater Victoria A Public Safety Program; Addressing the Wander Behaviors of Seniors with Alzheimer’s and Related Dementia Presented by Dr. Marjorie Moulton, Executive Director & Founder We Rage We Weep Alzheimer Foundation Co-Director & Founder Project Lifesaver of Greater Victoria

2. What you will learn! About the Foundation Our mission & mandate The stats driving the need What is wandering? It’s prevalence The warning signs The risk Who wanders & how far? About Project Lifesaver The history What it is How it works Who is involved The success How to enrol Live demonstration

3. Dr. Marjorie Moulton Executive Director & Founder of We Rage We Weep Alzheimer Foundation – May 2006 Co-founder & Director of Project Lifesaver Greater Victoria with David Rittenhouse – Jan 2008 Certified Electronic Search Specialist with Project Lifesaver International Began career in allopathic medicine & psychology in 1989 Earned a doctorate in Oriental Medicine Taught 2 yrs. at Oshio College of Acupuncture and Herbology Acupuncturist and Oriental Health Practitioner in Private Practice for 12

4. The Foundation Mandate: To ensure no caregiver feels alone, isolated or without adequate financial resources by supplying grant funding to caregivers who experience significant economic hardship in their care giving role of a loved one with Alzheimer Disease or related dementia, often a life partner or parent. We Rage We Weep Alzheimer Foundation Easing the financial burden of care giving – one family at a time

5. The Foundation’s Mission The Foundation’s primary focus is to help those with Alzheimer Disease or related dementia and their caregivers. It is the fundamental goal of the Foundation to support aging in place and to keep caregiver’s together with their loved ones in their own private residence as long as possible. Monetary assistance may be given for any necessary service or supply, at the discretion of the board of directors and dependant on funding, not currently available through statutory support that compliments existing community programs. Assistance will always be provided by or through qualified service providers.

6. National Statistics AD/related dementia now 6 th leading cause of death 1 in 11 Canadians over age 65 has Alzheimer’s 70% those with disease live at home 25% of caregivers experience economic hardship Caregivers assume 75-85% of financial responsibility AD and dementia kills more people than Breast and Prostate Cancers combined! 500,000 Canadians currently have AD, 72% are Women 71,000 Canadians under 65 now have AD

7. BC Statistics More than 70,000 British Columbians are currently living with Alzheimer Disease or a related dementia – nearly 10,000 of these individuals are under the age of 65.

8. Local vs. National Victoria, BC - (home to Foundation) has the highest proportion of very elderly – over 80 – in Canada This is the age where dementia rates potentially increase dramatically to 20% vs. 5% of those over 65 Canada - 4 million are over 65 and 1.3 million are over 80 “The age wave has crashed ashore, and we are not ready,” said Leeza Gibbons, talk show host and founder of Leeza Gibbons Memory Foundation.

9. What is Wandering? W andering is defined as behaviour by a person which represents both purposeful exit seeking and non-purposeful mobility within or outside a residence whether it be a private home or professional setting.

10. The Signs of Wandering How do you know wandering is about to occur? Agitation and restlessness Pacing, wandering aimlessly i.e. in & out of rooms Wandering based on routine - – Used to go for long walks (story – lake) Making references to “going out”, “going home”, looking for someone they can’t possibly find - – A deceased relative (mother/father) (story – children) – Person doesn’t live in area

11. Prevalence of Wandering 500,000 Canadians have dementia – 1.5% of population 69,000 British Columbians – 1.6% of population A new case every 5 minutes 59% of persons with dementia wander 72% of those will do so repeatedly

12. A National Concern Ottawa Citizen – “…people who wander putting unneeded burden on system, though no fault of their own. This stress will grow exponentially as our population ages.”

13. Comprehending the Risk Wandering is the most life threatening behaviour a person with dementia will engage in! The survival rate of a person with cognitive impairment, in good physical condition, missing up to 24 hours (Golden Window) is just 50%! After 24 hours, they will usually be severely injured or deceased.

14. Who Wanders & How Far? Who Wanders? Adults with Alzheimer’s or dementia Youth with Autism or Down Syndrome How far will they go? Most are found with 1 mile or 1.5km of home – Car, bus, plane On a mission! People with dementia will wander until: – They are tired – They are injured – They can’t go any further

15. Two Sides of Wandering Prevention - Family caregivers - Professional caregivers First Responders - Police - Fire - Search and Rescue

16. Project Lifesaver International

17. Project Lifesaver of Greater Victoria Began Jan 2008 Enrolled our first client in Sep Several recoveries to date All with a successful outcome! Project Lifesaver

18. A Lifesaving Program Project Lifesaver is a public safety program Only program in North America that uses VHF radio frequency technology to locate citizens who wander Integrates law enforcement, search and rescue, people with Alzheimer’s or related dementia and their caregivers It includes training, technology and education Project Lifesaver saves lives and money required to mount a search for a missing person with cognitive impairment

19. Project Lifesaver - Program Facts Operating in over 1,100 communities throughout North America 17,000 active clients enrolled at any given time Since 1999 over 2,100 searches have been performed Victoria is first community in BC & Western Canada to implement Project Lifesaver 100% success rate Average location time of 30 minutes

20. Project Lifesaver of Greater Victoria Three-way Partnership 1. We Rage We Weep Alzheimer Foundation 2. Search & Rescue Society of British Columbia 3. Commissionaires

21. Project Lifesaver Partner Roles We Rage We Weep Alzheimer Foundation Provide funding, perform client enrolment, administration, promotion and community outreach Search & Rescue Society of BC Perform the searches in conjunction with local police The Commissionaires Provide monthly home visits for client outreach and equipment maintenance

22. Project Lifesaver Enrolment 1-11/2 hr. In-home Appointment PL Client Profile (personal data questionnaire) PL Program Contract Caregiver Instructions (emergency stickers) Monthly Inspection Sheet ~ Demo ~

23. Project Lifesaver Equipment Ontario Provincial Police using Radio Tracking Receiver Personal Locator Unit (PLU) VHF transmitter shown on Client’s Wrist

24. About the Tracking Technology Active VHF Radio tracking technology has already proven to be effective – PL100% success rate in ~ 2,100 searches using Radio tracking technology GPS-based devices are cumbersome & don’t work in all settings Seniors’ homes use Project Lifesaver to enhance existing elopement and wander prevention programs

25. Why Project Lifesaver? Your Loved One/Client:You, The Caregiver: Dignity Independence Security Health Peace of Mind A good night’s rest!

26. Project Lifesaver Funding One time fee of $300.00 for PLU Commissionaire Home Visits $30.00 per month Clients may be eligible for full or partial funding to participate in Project Lifesaver of Greater Victoria through We Rage We Weep Alzheimer Foundation

27. Sponsored by www.werageweweep.com Registered Charity BN: 80814 2277 RR0001 We Rage, We Weep Alzheimer Foundation Easing the financial burden of care giving - one family at a time