Melinda Coleman says the Alzheimer’s Society of Lanark, Leeds and Grenville has ways to help families afford to protect their loved ones from wandering and getting lost.
Coleman, the organization’s Executive Director, spoke with Moose FM about Project Lifesaver, a new initiative launched by the society alongside the Leeds and Grenville County OPP detachments.
It provides people at risk of wandering with a wristband transmitter police can use to find them and bring them home safely if they go missing.
“The wristband transmitter leasing fee is $350,” Coleman says. “It’s a one-time fee, and then there’s battery change fees as well. So, it’s not inexpensive in any way, but we do have ways to help families who have financial concerns with it, because we do really believe in the program.”
She says the organization is planning to launch fundraising initiatives in the future to recoup the costs of the wristbands.
“I believe for us to order them, it was over $400 [in United States dollars] per wristband, so we are trying to be very reasonable with the cost,” Coleman says. “And we do hope to get some fundraising efforts and some donations toward it, to further assist families that can’t manage the costs of the program.”
Coleman says you can contact the Alzheimer’s Society at 1-866-576-8556 if you want to sign a loved one up for Project Lifesaver.
