The first time he wandered, I wasn't ready. The second time, I still wasn't. Then everything changed.
The first time he wandered, I wasn't ready. The second time, I still wasn't. Then everything changed.
There is a specific kind of fear that belongs only to those caring for someone with a neurological condition.
It can arrive at any time, but for me it arrived at 3 am.
If you know, you know. The moment you realize they're gone. Not declining. Not struggling.
GONE.
Out of the house. Into the night. And you have no idea which direction they went.
I lived that night. More than once.
What I didn't know, what nobody told me, what I couldn't find in any pamphlet or doctor's office handout, was that there was a program specifically designed for that moment. Already existing in my community. Already funded. Already there to help me.
I only found out because a police officer handed me a business card at 3 am on a dark street.
It's called Project Lifesaver.
And if you are caring for someone who wanders, or someone who might, this is the most important thing I can put in your hands today.
What it is:
Project Lifesaver is a national program run through local law enforcement. Participants wear a small bracelet that emits a tracking signal. If your loved one wanders, you don't call 911 and wait. You call the program's dedicated line, and trained officers respond immediately with tracking equipment. Average recovery time is 30 minutes or less.
It exists in hundreds of communities across the country. It's low-cost or free for families who qualify. And most caregivers have never heard of it.
What to do right now:
Go to projectlifesaver.org and search for your local chapter. If your community has a chapter, call them this week before you need them. Getting registered before a crisis is everything.
If your community doesn't have a chapter yet, ask your local police department. Many are in the process of adopting the program.
The resources exist. They're just scattered, unlabeled, and invisible until someone who's been through it points you toward them.
Every issue, I will bring you one real moment. One thing I learned the hard way. One clear next move for you.
You're not alone in this.
With you, Tahnya Brown, PCC Founder, Tahn & Co. Author | Caregiver Advocate
