By now we’re all familiar with the purpose of an Amber Alert. But can you say the same about a Silver Alert? I’m sure you’ve seen highlights in the news or on message signs on the highway asking viewers and drivers to be on the lookout for an older missing person. And as with Amber Alerts, public assistance is crucial in locating them.
A Silver Alert or Code Silver is issued when an older adult is reported missing. That individual also suffers from a cognitive disorder including, but not limited to, Alzheimer’s or Dementia. While the alert doesn’t detail medical history, it will include a photo, physi
cal description, last known location, and where their home is located. This information is shared with law enforcement, the media, and often the Department of Transportation.
This is where the public comes into play. You see this information on the news, while you’re driving, or even as you’re scrolling through social media. In this age of computers, social media and our fondness for our cell phones, we have the ability to get these alerts seen by more people than ever before. Texting, emailing and sharing are the quickest ways to alert others in the area and bring them home safely.
There is no national program in place, but most states have implemented a similar set of guidelines. Hopefully, the success rate of finding missing persons under the Silver Alert or Code Silver program is being noticed by those remaining states and they will implement their own. For more information about the Silver Alert program in Maryland please visit
