US Travel

Alzheimer Society of Canada has recently learned that American Law Enforcement agencies do not have access to the Wandering Persons Registry contained on the Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC) database.

CPIC allows American law enforcement agencies to access the Wandering Persons Registry but the U.S. computer system (NCIC) is not designed to perform queries to the Wandering Persons Registry contained in CPIC. In other words, the Wandering Registry Program is available in the US but technology limitations prevent its accessibility.

It is important to realize that as soon as a person is reported missing, they are entered on CPIC with similar information contained in the Wandering Person Registry, and that entry on CPIC is accessible to the US authorities.

Despite this, our contacts at the RCMP have informed us that to suggest the information contained in the CPIC database is readily available to American law enforcement computer systems would be misleading.

As a result, we are providing the following information to people with Alzheimer's and related diseases, their families and caregivers about this change.

Canadians who have dementia or support someone who does and who travel to the United States, may wish to consider registering with the American Alzheimer Association program, "Safe Return" in addition to "Safely Home". In order to help you make an informed decision about this, we offer the following information to you:

a) "Safe Return" is available to Canadians who wish to register a person with dementia who travels to the United States. The cost is currently $49.95 excluding shipping and handling costs of $4.95. There is an annual fee of $25.00 (all prices quoted are current as of December 7, 2007 and are in US funds). The registration form requests that a recent photo of the person being registered be included.

b) A person can register in one of four ways.

Via phone: A toll free number (1-888-572-8566) is available through extended hours Monday through Saturday. The caller will get a recorded introduction that thanks them for calling Medic Alert and the Alzheimer Association Safe Return program. It will then prompt the person to choose one option if they are reporting a lost individual or another option if they are calling to enrol or for more information. They will then be asked for the person's name and contact information, medical conditions, allergies, medications, exact wrist measurement in inches and at least two contact names, addresses and phone numbers. They will also be asked for a credit card number with an expiry date.

Via mail: The person can request that a registration form be mailed to them when they dial the 1-888 number, as listed above.

Via the internet: The person may type "Medic Alert + Safe Return" or either term individually and will be taken to a page which has links to pages that focus on the Safe Return program. A more direct link is http://www.alz.org/we_can_help_medicalert_safereturn.asp. One can click on the enrollment form link and print the form. The address in California to which the form should be mailed is included. Online enrollment is planned but is not yet available.

Via fax: The person may follow the same process as for 'via mail', above. The form is faxed to 1-800-863-3429.