You’ve probably heard about many of the bills currently being considered by the Florida Legislature. One has the potential to impact more than 580,000 Floridians living with Alzheimer’s and their 827,000 dementia caregivers.
House Bill 801/Senate Bill 208 would establish a continuing education course on Alzheimer’s and dementia for law enforcement. It is imperative that law enforcement have the resources necessary to address situations properly.
I will never forget a call from my dad after my mom was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2007. She had a hair appointment in Hollywood and had gotten lost on the road when heading home to Tamarac. I called my husband and a dear friend of mine and asked them to please start calling her phone and to get in their cars to start looking for her until I could get there. After a couple of hours of calling, she finally answered and told me that her cell phone was at the bottom of her tote bag. I asked her where she was and she didn’t know. She said she was at a gas station, so I asked to speak to someone there. Fortunately, this incident ended without issue.
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, six in 10 Floridians with Alzheimer’s will wander at least once throughout the course of their disease. This, along with the inability to identify places and names, elevate the chances individuals may interact with law enforcement.
Other ways law enforcement could come into contact with our loved ones include car accidents or erratic driving, indecent exposure, shoplifting and disaster response. When someone is living with dementia, there are many reasons they will act differently, and it might not always look as though something is wrong. It is critical that officers are able to recognize the signs of this terrible disease.
Following my dad’s passing in 2009, my mom lived alone for a very short period of time while I was searching for caregivers and working full-time. One day, she decided to walk across a very busy road to go to her new hair stylist across the street from her condo. This incident obviously could have taken a horrible turn for our family, but thankfully it did not. It was very difficult for me to try and explain to my mom why this was so dangerous for her without getting her upset.
What if she had been approached by law enforcement officers? What would have happened?
This bill would include instruction on how to interact with persons with Alzheimer’s disease and related forms of dementia. Officers would be trained in techniques for recognizing behavioral symptoms and characteristics, ways to communicate effectively, alternatives to physical restraints and how to identify signs of abuse, neglect or exploitation.
During the 2023 session, the Legislature passed HB 1275, which allowed local law enforcement agencies to develop a persons with disabilities registry. This registry can help in identifying individuals in the case of a crisis situation. Here in Broward County, our sheriff’s office has the BSO Cares program. This is a fantastic first step in ensuring individuals with dementia are treated with dignity. But we cannot stop there.
My story is one of many from Floridians facing Alzheimer’s and similar diseases. My mom passed in 2019, but we must continue to advocate for those going through it right now.
It is critical that all of us find additional ways in which to help ensure the safety of our most vulnerable loved ones as they are unable to recognize the dangers they sometimes face. That is why I am asking my representatives in the Florida Legislature, state Sen. Lauren Book and state Rep. Robin Bartleman, to co-sponsor this critical legislation.
Denise M. Eyerman, of Pembroke Pines, is a longtime resident of South Florida and volunteer with the Alzheimer’s Association Southeast Florida Chapter and Walk to End Alzheimer’s Broward County.
