Protecting the most vulnerable of senior citizens is the goal of a new campaign now underway in Illinois. Silver Search looks to make sure that any Alzheimer’s or Dementia patient who wanders off is quickly and safely located.

It’s a bigger problem than you may realize, an estimated sixty-percent of these patients wander at some point during their diagnosis.

And while some states already have similar programs, Illinois officials believe Silver Search can be an example of a campaign that works to assist law enforcement and protects the hundreds of thousands diagnosed with these devastating conditions.

Now officers will be able to utilize I-DOT message boards as well as lottery terminals to spread information about a search. The program has been in discussions for many years with the purpose of getting as many eyes out during these searches as possible.

Over the next two years, approximately 2,500 officers and dispatchers will receive training for the Silver Search initiative.