Canton Announces Alzheimer's Registry, Emergency Responders Referral Form

Submitted release 

A local committee whose mission it is to keep seniors safe has announced two major initiatives.

The Seniors and Law Enforcement Together (SALT) committee recently started a TRIAD program designed to help seniors and has steadily been putting programs into place.

This week, two programs were announced:

1.The Alzheimer's Registry is a new initiative of the TRIAD Program and is heavily supported by the Canton PD and Senior & Social Services offices.  This initiative will help to keep those Canton residents with a diagnosis of Alzheimers or other dementia safer, while providing peace of mind to family members and friends.

This voluntary program provides a form to be filled out with the relevant identification information for a resident with a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia.  The information will be ‘housed’ at the Canton Police Department only and will be used solely as a means to aid law enforcement and other public safety professionals to help locate missing wandering residents. The form will augment existing investigative techniques and programs such as the ‘Silver Alert’, which is a statewide program that helps in the finding of missing older adults.

“The Canton TRIAD Program is geared toward opening up the communication between town departments, while empowering older adult residents and their families to be proactive in their health, safety and overall well-being,” said senior and social services coordinator Claire Cote. “Canton’s older adult population is one of the highest concentration in the Farmington Valley, and a huge subset of this population are struggling with dementia, or are caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease, or another dementia.  This program is that of a preventative one, but also geared toward providing peace of mind to the family caregivers who are working tirelessly to ensure a life of dignity and safety for their loved one.”

2.  TRIAD “Emergency Responders Referral Form.” The Canton Police, Fire and EMS Departments respond to and investigate a variety of situations on a regular basis. There are times when emergency response personnel require alternative and other intervention or assistance not routinely available from their disciplines to resolve a situation.  In those circumstances, the Canton first responders have the ability to and are authorized to forward non-confidential information to the Town of Canton’s Senior and Social Services Department for follow-up action/services.  Referrals are made on a case by case basis, but it is now protocol that if there is the suspicion of other underlying problems, then Senior & Social Services will be notified.

“Above and beyond our traditional law enforcement responsibilities, the Canton Police Department strives to provide and obtain assistance for families and individuals who may be at-risk in the community as well as fostering a good working relationship with the Senior and Social Services Department within the town of Canton,” police chief Christopher Arciero said. “This new referral form allows for direct access to the Senior and Social Services Department so that the non-criminal aspects of the call for service may be appropriately addressed.”