About Safe Return

Alzheimer’s Association Safe Return®is a nationwide identification, support and enrollment program that provides assistance when a person with Alzheimer’s or a related dementia wanders and becomes lost locally or far from home.

Assistance is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If an enrollee is missing, one call immediately activates a community support network to help reunite the lost person with his or her caregiver.

Safe Return faxes the enrolled person’s information and photo to local law enforcement. When the person is found, a citizen or law official calls the 800-number on the identification products and Safe Return notifies listed contacts. The nearest Alzheimer’s Association office provides information and support during the search and rescue efforts.

Identification products

With a $40 enrollment in Alzheimer’s Association Safe Return, you receive the following products:

  • Engraved identification bracelet or necklace and iron-on clothing labels.
  • Caregiver checklist, key chain, lapel pin, refrigerator magnet, stickers and wallet cards.
  • For an additional $5, you’ll receive caregiver jewelry. In an emergency, it alerts others that you provide care for a person enrolled in Safe Return.

Enrollment

To enroll, a person with dementia or the caregiver fills out a simple form, supplies a photograph, chooses the type of identification product that the enrollee will wear and/or carry, and makes a enrollment payment of $40. Check with your local Alzheimer’s Association chapter to find out if scholarships are available in your area to cover the cost of enrollment.

There are three ways you can enroll in Safe Return:

1) Online. Enroll with our secure form. It’s fast and easy.

Enroll online now.

2) Phone: Enroll by phone using a credit card. Call 1.888.572.8566. We are available 24 hours a day.

3) Mail: To enroll by mail, simply print out and complete the enrollment form and send payment and enrollee photo to the address listed on the form. You may also phone 1.888.572.8566 to have an enrollment form mailed to you.

When enrolling online or by phone, you will be asked to provide the following information:

  • Enrollees’ name and contact information
  • Enrollee’s identifying characteristics (height, weight, eye color, distinguishing marks and characteristics, etc.)
  • Enrollee’s EXACT wrist measurement in inches (required when ordering a bracelet)
  • Up to three contact names, addresses and phone numbers (more can be added, if necessary)
  • Local law enforcement information (address, phone and fax numbers)
  • Credit card number and expiration date

To learn more about the Alzheimer’s Safe Return and Enrollment and different languages please go to: http://www.alz.org/Services/SafeReturn.asp

Author

  • The Alzheimer's Association (U.S.A.) assumed leadership of the world's largest international conference on Alzheimer's disease, World Alzheimer Congress 2000. Over a 10-day span, world leaders in Alzheimer research and care united in July 2000, marking the first time these Alzheimer specialists have come together for the vital purpose of sharing information on research and care to improve the lives of people affected by Alzheimer's disease. This unique gathering of scientists, healthcare professionals and other specialists was the collaborative effort of the Alzheimer's Association (U.S.A.), Alzheimer's Disease International, and the Alzheimer Society of Canada. For more information, visit the web site.