Reminder: City groups hold training scenario for searching for missing and vulnerable seniors

To better align the search for missing seniors who are vulnerable, the Calgary Coordinated Community Response to Missing Seniors committee is holding a day-long training exercise.

The group, comprised of health workers, law enforcement, and social services, advocates for keeping seniors safe in our communities, including assessing strategies to assist authorities in finding missing older, vulnerable adults.

More than 10 per cent of Calgarians are seniors - over the age of 65 - with the number expected to double in the next 25 years. More than 13,000 people in our city are living with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias, and it’s estimated 60 per cent will at one point wander from their homes or care facilities.

Recognizing the trend, the committee works to coordinate an effective response to not only support the senior in need, but their families, caregivers and the community.

On Wednesday, June 6, 2018, the committee will participate in day-long scenarios testing a “community awareness response framework” as part of a University of Alberta project that is studying the best ways to engage the public when seniors go missing.

The community awareness response framework could be used to notify the public when a vulnerable senior is missing. Calgary is one of three cities where the technology is being tested, along with Vancouver and Toronto. U of A researchers will be on-hand during the scenarios.

This is Seniors’ Week in Alberta, a time to recognize the difference seniors make in our community each and every day. For more information on Seniors’ Week, visit http://www.seniors-housing.alberta.ca/events/