Charleston County Introduces Project Lifesaver to Locate Alzheimer’s Patients Who Wander Away From Home

Charleston County Introduces Project Lifesaver to Locate Alzheimer’s Patients Who Wander Away From Home

In Charleston County, South Carolina, families of those suffering cognitive disorders such as Alzheimer’s have found a beacon of hope. For over a decade now, Charleston County Sheriff’s Office has adopted Project Lifesaver, a national program designed to locate their loved ones who may wander away from home due to their cognitive condition.

The Lifesaver Technology – How It Works

Project Lifesaver operates through a simple tracking device worn either around the wrist or ankle of the patient. It emits a radio signal programmed to match a certain frequency detected by the devices used by the County’s Sheriff’s Office. Master Deputy Erik Garrison from the Sheriff’s Office says, “This technology provides an audible frequency and points towards the direction of the patient, which helps us pinpoint and locate them.”

The Costs and Benefits

This program, funded by the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office budget, is free for its residents. But the cost is well outweighed by the benefits, as the manpower and time saved by First Responders have proven to be invaluable. Master Deputy Garris says, “Equipments like these can help us locate people within five minutes, compared to the over-time shifts lasting over six hours that we used to put in.”

Radio Signals MMA Style

As Project Lifesaver relies on radio signals, it’s operational even during power outages and severe weather conditions. Erik Garris explains, “GPS requires towns and service, but this system is independent of such requirements. If a network failure happens, this system will still function.”

The Importance of Relationships

But the technology is only one part of the success. Equally important are the relationships between those patients and the officials involved in managing this program. “Given the familiarity between the responders and the patients, the former often know where the patients are likely to be found. Familiar grocery stores or hiding spots in churches are easily discernible. This tool is a supplementary aid for us, not a substitute for relationships,” adds Garris.

Sign-up Information

For anyone interested in signing up, please contact Sergeant Kathleen Mclean at kmclean@charlestoncounty.org or Master Deputy Erik Garris at egarris@charlestoncounty.org.