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ORIGINATOR: (NAME, ADDRESS, TELEPHONE) CHIEF BOB DAVIES 705-949-6300 EXT. 321 |
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CONTACT: (NAME, ADDRESS, TELEPHONE) Sergeant Lisa Kenopic Community Services/Media Relations 705-949-6300 |
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TO BE RELEASED: DATE: January 19, 2010 TIME: Immediate RE: AT RISK DRIVER PROGRAM |
In
the Algoma District there are approximately 2,000 people with Alzheimer’s
disease and related dementia. The
district has an aging population and the numbers are growing. The issue of persons with dementia and continuing
to drive, after they have been deemed medically unsafe to do so, is becoming
more and more of a concern throughout the province. To react quickly to potentially dangerous
traffic conditions requires concentration, good judgment along with the ability
to reason and make decisions. Unfortunately
many of these skills are impaired in people with dementia. The Sault Ste. Marie
Police Service in partnership with the Alzheimer Society and the Dementia Care
Network Algoma are introducing to our community and the District the "At
Risk Driver" program in an attempt to deal with this issue and to assist
families and caregivers who are coping with a cognitively impaired driver.
Program Purpose
The
At Risk Driver Program will provide families and caregivers with a program that
helps to facilitate the safe return of the cognitively impaired person whose
license has been revoked by the Ministry of Transportation yet continues to
drive. The ultimate purpose of the
program is to improve road safety for all members of the community. The program will also assist to:
·
Reduce the
incidence of cognitively impaired drivers who continue to drive.
·
Provide an option
for family members and caregivers who are concerned about the person who
continues to drive.
·
Provide Sault
Ste. Marie Police Service with necessary information to assist cognitively
impaired drivers.
·
Increase
awareness of families and caregivers of the impact that dementia has on driving
ability.
·
Increase
community awareness of dementia and driving issues.
How it will work:
·
Complaint/concern
expressed by a caregiver/family member that a person with dementia whose
license has been revoked who continues to drive.
·
The agency
receiving the concern/complaint will explain the At Risk Driver Program.
·
The Registration
Form is completed by the complainant.
·
The agency
receiving the concern/complaint will forward the completed Registration Form to
the Alzheimer Society.
·
The Alzheimer
Society will forward the original Registration Form to the Sault Ste. Marie
Police Service. A copy of the form will
be maintained at the Alzheimer Society.
·
The Sault Ste.
Marie Police Service will process the At Risk Driver Program Registration Form
as a Police Information Report – General Incident...
·
On the Canadian
Police Information Centre (CPIC) database, the cognitively impaired driver will
be identified as a “Special Interest to Police” and will be flagged as such
when his/her license place or name is processed.
·
Should the police
stop a person who is registered in the At Risk Driver Program, they will notify
the contact person(s) listed on the Registration Form to facilitate the safe
return of the driver. It is the
responsibility of the contact person(s) deal with the vehicle.
·
Families/caregivers
will be responsible for updating information should there be any changes; e.g.,
person moves person changes vehicles or license plates, person stops driving
voluntarily, etc.
·
The Alzheimer
Society will notify Sault Ste. Marie Police Service of all changes to the
information on the Registration Form.
The
At Risk Driver Program was made possible through the collaboration of the
members of the Alzheimer Society, Dementia Care Network Algoma and the Sault
Ste. Marie Police Service. This
partnership is also involved in the Safely
Home® Program for the past 20 years.
Following is some information about our
local Safely Home® Program:
As Alzheimer's disease affects
each area of the brain, certain functions can be lost. These may include the
ability to recognize familiar places, the ability to remember one's own name or
address, or the ability to communicate. The loss of these abilities can result
in changes in a person's behaviour. For example, a person may leave
home, become confused and get lost. This behaviour can be dangerous for people
with Alzheimer's disease. It is also worrisome for family members and
caregivers.
Safely Home® assists police in finding a person who is lost
and returning them safely to their home. It is a nationwide program
developed by the Alzheimer Society of
- an identification bracelet
- a Caregiver Handbook
- identification cards
- updates to the member's file as often as they are provided by the
caregivers or the member.
If a member goes missing, the
caregiver should contact the local police. The police, accessing the
computer database, will find pertinent information on the member including
personal history, physical characteristics and locations where the person is
known to visit. It is important for family members and caregivers to keep an
up-to-date photo of the member on hand. When
a member is found, the police use the identification number on the bracelet to
search the computer database, and determine where the person lives and whom to
contact. For more information or to
register persons please contact the local Alzheimer Society at 705-942-2195.
This pre-planning can avoid a
tragedy later.
