Home » Podcasts » LA County Launches Tracking Technology To Help Find Missing People With Autism, Alzheimer’s Or Dementia

LA County Launches Tracking Technology To Help Find Missing People With Autism, Alzheimer’s Or Dementia

On Wednesday, Los Angeles County officials launched a new tracking technology in the form of a bracelet to help find missing people with autism, Alzheimer’s or dementia.


Sponsored Articles


Don’t miss a thing. Get breaking KHTS Santa Clarita News Alerts delivered right to your inbox.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn, Sheriff Jim McDonnell and Cynthia Banks, Director of the LA County Workforce Development, Aging and Community Services Department (WDACS), came together to officially launch “LA Found.”

“If you have cared for someone with dementia or autism, you know the fear of what might happen if you turn your back for just one minute,” said Hahn. “LA Found will not only save lives, it will finally give caregivers some peace of mind. If someone you love goes missing, LA County is ready to step in and help find them.”

LA Found is the culmination of community input and expert recommendations through the Bringing Our Loved Ones Home (BOLOH) Task Force, originally proposed through a motion authored by Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn and co-authored by Supervisor Kathryn Barger.

“Anytime we can partner with law enforcement to protect our loved ones, we should take advantage of it,” said Tony Bell, spokesperson for Supervisor Kathryn Barger, who represents Santa Clarita as part of the fifth district.

The voluntary system features trackable bracelets that can be located using receivers carried in Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department helicopters and designated ground units.

While the bracelet is not under constant monitoring, when an individual wearing a bracelet goes missing, caregivers call 911 and the police agency or sheriff’s station will inform the Sheriff’s Department Mental Evaluation Team who will deploy receivers to help locate the missing person. The Project Lifesaver bracelet uses radio frequency technology to transmit an electronic “chirping” signal to help rescuers locate the wearer.

“Our LASD mission is to be the eyes and ears in the sky and on the ground. This technology literally enables lost loved ones to communicate their location to us and enable us to do all we can, as first responders, to bring peace, comfort and families back together again,” said Sheriff Jim McDonnell.

LA County has more than 177,000 residents with Alzheimer’s disease. There’s also a large population of people with autism and other developmental disorders that make them susceptible to wandering, according to officials.

While the vast majority of these individuals are recovered, wandering cases can end in tragedy.

“We want caregivers to know that the County is here for you,” said Cynthia D. Banks, WDACS Director. “Through LA Found we are not only providing access to tracking bracelets, but collaborating with law enforcement agencies, municipalities and other partners to improve emergency coordination, while providing information and resources to support individuals caring for someone with Alzheimer’s Disease, Dementia or Autism.”

In order to qualify for the program, caregivers must first schedule a phone interview with either the Sheriff’s Department or WDACS through the website. Once an at-risk individual qualifies, the caregiver will be allowed to purchase and register the bracelet with the Sheriff’s Department.

The bracelets cost $325 and are also available to lease through Project Lifesaver.

A waiting list is also available to be considered for a free bracelet. Call 1-833-569-7651 or email LAFound@wdacs.lacounty.gov to be placed on the waiting list.

Do you have a news tip? Call us at (661) 298-1220, or send an email to newstip@hometownstation.com.

Report a typo or error, email Corrections@hometownstation.com

KHTS FM 98.1 and AM 1220 is Santa Clarita’s only local radio station. KHTS mixes in a combination of news, traffic, sports, and features along with your favorite adult contemporary hits. Santa Clarita news and features are delivered throughout the day over our airwaves, on our website and through a variety of social media platforms. Our KHTS national award-winning daily news briefs are now read daily by 34,000+ residents. A vibrant member of the Santa Clarita community, the KHTS broadcast signal reaches all of the Santa Clarita Valley and parts of the high desert communities located in the Antelope Valley. The station streams its talk shows over the web, reaching a potentially worldwide audience. Follow @KHTSRadio on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

KHTS FM 98.1 & AM 1220 - Santa Clarita News - Santa Clarita Radio

LA County Launches Tracking Technology To Help Find Missing People With Autism, Alzheimer’s Or Dementia

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

About Caleb Lunetta

Caleb has been a Santa Clarita resident for most of his life. After attending Hart High School, Caleb went on to study political science at the University of California, Santa Barbara along with College of the Canyons.