1-1 1 1-2 SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 496 1-3 WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to 1-4 recognize Safe Return, a nationwide identification, support, 1-5 and registration program for persons suffering from Alzheimer's 1-6 disease and their caretakers; and 1-7 WHEREAS, Each year, millions of Americans afflicted with 1-8 Alzheimer's disease lose their ability to recognize familiar 1-9 places and people; these sufferers become easily lost and can 1-10 wander far from home; and 1-11 WHEREAS, Families and caretakers of those with Alzheimer's 1-12 disease live in constant fear that their loved ones may become 1-13 disoriented and stray beyond the safety of their homes; such 1-14 incidents can occur even when sufferers are vigilantly monitored; 1-15 and 1-16 WHEREAS, Safe Return assists families and caretakers by 1-17 promptly identifying and returning those Alzheimer's sufferers who 1-18 become lost; the organization accomplishes its goal by providing 1-19 those with Alzheimer's an identification bracelet or necklace, 1-20 clothing labels, and wallet cards; these items, which feature 1-21 a toll-free crisis number, signal that the individual is memory 1-22 impaired and may need help; and 2-1 WHEREAS, To assist in the locating and return of lost 2-2 persons, Safe Return maintains a national information and photo 2-3 database that includes important emergency contact information 2-4 and photographs of Alzheimer's patients, a 24-hour, toll-free 2-5 crisis line, and a fax alert notification system; and 2-6 WHEREAS, In addition to its identification services, Safe 2-7 Return acts as an education center for those families coping 2-8 with Alzheimer's disease; it offers training on how to handle 2-9 wandering behavior and also provides information about a 2-10 nationwide network of over 200 community-based Alzheimer's 2-11 support chapters; and 2-12 WHEREAS, Safe Return's success depends on community 2-13 cooperation; radio and television stations that broadcast the 2-14 names and likenesses of missing Alzheimer's patients and those 2-15 citizens who take responsibility for helping them play a critical 2-16 role in this important public health effort; and 2-17 WHEREAS, For the families and caretakers of Alzheimer's 2-18 sufferers, the knowledge that their loved ones may become lost 2-19 is one of the most unsettling aspects of the disease; Safe Return 2-20 is an invaluable resource for these families and caretakers, 2-21 serving a critical healthcare need in communities throughout 2-22 Texas and around the nation; now, therefore, be it 2-23 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 2-24 77th Legislature, hereby commend the humanitarian work of Safe 3-1 Return and encourage radio and television stations in Texas to 3-2 implement a plan to help Safe Return find missing Alzheimer's 3-3 patients; and, be it further 3-4 RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared to 3-5 inform all Texans about this vital public health initiative. 3-6 Armbrister 3-7 ______________________________________ 3-8 President of the Senate 3-9 I hereby certify that the above 3-10 Resolution was adopted by the Senate 3-11 on March 19, 2001. 3-12 ______________________________________ 3-13 Secretary of the Senate 3-14 ______________________________________ 3-15 Member, Texas Senate