ST. LUCIE COUNTY, Fla. — A Fort Pierce man is relieved after his wife, who has Alzheimer’s, was located Thursday after wandering from their home for nearly an hour.
William Cunningham is praising the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office for finding his wife, Shirley, with special tracking technology.
“About two years ago, she had a stroke and then a little touch of Alzheimer's,” Cunningham described.
When his family learned Shirley had Alzheimer’s, they signed up for the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office SafetyNet program. That provided Shirley with a bracelet that she wears constantly. Deputies can use radio frequency detection to locate her if she goes missing.
In 2018, the sheriff’s office expanded its program to include Project Lifesaver, which also provides tracking devices for people with Autism in addition to Alzheimer’s.
Both programs are utilized under a program the Sheriff’s Office named Project L.O.S.T, or Locating Our Survivors Timely.
Cunningham never thought they would need the bracelet, but Thursday, he was relieved to have it.
“I dozed off and went to sleep and when I got up she was gone,” Cunningham said. “When I couldn’t find her, I just immediately called 911.”
Because Shirley was wearing her bracelet, they were able to find her about a block away from home, sitting in a stranger’s unlocked car.
“The sheriff’s department and everybody was right on time,” Cunningham said.
Shirley said she didn’t realize she was lost, but said she wouldn’t have been able to find her way home.
Currently, 98 people are registered under Project L.O.S.T.
Since April 2018, 5 people with Alzheimer’s have been located after being reported missing.
“It was a good thing I had it on,” Shirley said. “I didn’t think I would need it.”
“I advise everybody, if they’ve got parents, loved ones that have a touch of Alzheimer's, go and get a bracelet,” Cunningham said.
Anyone can contact the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office if they want to sign up a loved one for the program.
There can be a cost in some cases, but the sheriff’s office has obtained grants and works with donors to make the bracelets as affordable as possible.
