Saskatchewan Missing Persons Week

In support of this Year’s Missing Person’s Week, which is centred around the theme “What Can We Do?”, The Alzheimer Society would like to acknowledge the significant impact that ‘missingness’ can have on family, friends, and the community. Along with our other collaborating partners who make up the Saskatchewan Missing Persons Partnership, we recognize the importance of implementing preventative measures to protect vulnerable populations, as well as the need to improve responses to missing persons cases.

Dementia can cause changes in abilities, behaviour, and communication that, over time, may affect a person’s ability to problem solve and recognize potential hazards. Dementia may also cause disorientation in time and space, meaning a person could have difficulty navigating even well-known surroundings or keeping track of how long they have been away from home.

Statistics indicate that a large percentage of people with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia may become lost at some point during the progression of their disease. When a person living with dementia becomes lost, there is a there is a 50% chance that they will be found injured or dead from hypothermia, dehydration, or drowning if they are not located within 12 hours. Individual and organizational level supports and services are essential to supporting those living with dementia so that they can continue to live well in their own communities for as long as possible.

“What Can We Do?”

This Missing Person’s Week, we invite you to become a Dementia Friend. A Dementia Friend is someone who:

Commits to learning more about dementia, including the warning signs associated with dementia.
Uses their acquired knowledge in everyday interactions to help communities become more supportive and inclusive.
Talks openly about dementia and why dementia matters in their community to help combat stigma that is often associated with the disease.

By having more awareness of dementia and the warning signs, a Dementia Friend may be better able to recognize when someone in their community could be lost or disoriented. A Dementia Friend can assist the individual by responding in supportive ways and by connecting with the proper resources to ensure the person returns home safely.

This Missing Persons Week, sign up to be a Dementia Friend.

Friends - Dementia Friendly SaskatchewanDementia Friendly Saskatchewan

Together, we can make a more dementia friendly Saskatchewan one Friend at a time!

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Saskatchewan Missing Persons Week

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