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