52:17B-77.7 Findings, declarations relative to Alzheimer's disease.
1. The Legislature finds and declares that:
a. Alzheimer's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder causing dementia and resulting in such conditions as anxiety, poor judgement, confusion, mood swings and loss of intellectual functioning;
b. Of the four million Americans currently diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, 60% of them will become disoriented and wander off at some point during the disease;
c. If a person with Alzheimer's disease wanders off and is not found within the first 24 hours, there is a nearly 50% chance the person will be at risk for serious injury or death;
d. Safe Return is a national identification, support and registration program working in conjunction with local law enforcement agencies to safely return individuals with Alzheimer's disease and related disorders, who become lost, to their families and caregivers; and
e. It is in the interest of protecting the health and welfare of our State residents diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and related disorders to establish a requirement that all State Police and local law enforcement personnel receive instruction on the utilization of the Safe Return program to facilitate the safe recovery of those who wander off and become lost.
L.2005,c.72,s.1.