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[The
material on this page was current when it was first posted.
For up-to-date information on this topic, visit the Alzheimer
Care section. Note that in 2003 the Alzheimer Wandering
Registry was renamed Safely Home™ -- Alzheimer Wandering
Registry.]
Media
Release
For
immediate release
Sept. 18, 2002
For
more information:
Janice Summerby, Stacey Johnson, Alzheimer Society of Canada
-- (416)488-8772 or pr@alzheimer.ca
Veterans
affairs supports Alzheimer Wandering Registry program
for eligible veterans
Ottawa
-- The Honourable Dr. Rey Pagtakhan, Minister of Veterans
Affairs and Secretary of State (Science, Research and
Development), announced today a new benefit for eligible
veterans who want to participate in a nationwide identification
program to help people with Alzheimer's disease return
safely home after wandering. This new benefit is the
result of a partnership between Veterans Affairs Canada
(VAC) and the Alzheimer Society of Canada (ASC).
"One
in 13 Canadians over the age of 65 is affected by Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia with research showing that
one in six wander," said Minister Pagtakhan. "By
covering the registration fee for eligible veterans to
participate in the Alzheimer Wandering Registry Program,
we can help ensure the health of veterans is protected
by supporting the safe return of those who wander."
The
$25 registration fee is covered for any veteran currently
receiving benefits from VAC. [Note: The registration fee for Safely Home was changed to $35 on April 1, 2006.] Individuals registered with
the Alzheimer Wandering Registry Program wear a bracelet
with an engraved identification number. This unique ID
number allows police to access the Program's database
to identify the individual's name and reunite him/her
with family or caregiver.
"The
Alzheimer Society of Canada is pleased that Veterans
Affairs Canada has recognized the importance of protecting
the well-being of veterans living with Alzheimer's disease,
as well as providing their families and caregivers with
a sense of security and peace of mind," said Ilona
Horgen, Director of Support Services and Education, Alzheimer
Society of Canada. "The Alzheimer Wandering Registry
Program currently has 11,500 registrants, but many more
Canadians could benefit from this valuable service." The
Alzheimer Wandering Registry Program was established
in 1995 by the Alzheimer Society of Canada in collaboration
with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Solicitor
General of Canada and Health Canada.
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