Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, Alzheimer\u2019s Los Angeles, L.A. Found and the L.A. County Department of Workforce Development, Aging and Community Services (WDACS) are hosting a home safety virtual presentation for caregivers of people with dementia on Wednesday, April 20 from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. This free educational event will provide important safety information and information on the L.A. Found Project Lifesaver bracelets.<\/p>\n
“Most people living with dementia want to remain comfortably in their homes and communities for as long as possible, so wandering and home safety are very real concerns for families,\u201d said\u00a0Supervisor Barger<\/strong>. \u201cThe partners providing this safety webinar and I are committed to ensuring families caring for someone living with a cognitive issue are equipped with the resources, education, and information they need and deserve.\u201d<\/p>\n A critical resource is provided by L.A. Found, an organization that offers wearable tracking devices to people with a cognitive impairment such as Alzheimer\u2019s or dementia. These bracelets help law enforcement locate a person who has wandered away from their home.<\/p>\n Alzheimer\u2019s Los Angeles Board Member Kirk Moody<\/strong>, whose wife Nancy wandered away while they were at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, emphasized the importance of the program. \u201cAs a former caregiver who has lost a loved one to wandering, I cannot overemphasize the importance of the information in the webinar,\u201d Moody said. \u201cAlzheimer’s Los Angeles is the preeminent resource for caregivers and those with dementia in Los Angeles, and the amazing L.A. Found program is specifically designed to help prevent wandering and locating those individuals who do get lost or wander.\u00a0 The information presented in this webinar is lifesaving.\u201d<\/p>\n Sixty percent of people with a dementia will wander at some point. There are an estimated 177,000 people living with Alzheimer\u2019s or other dementia in Los Angeles County.<\/p>\n \u201cBy 2030, the number of L.A. County residents living with Alzheimer\u2019s is expected to double,\u201d said\u00a0Dr. Laura Trejo, Executive Director for Aging and Community Services for L.A. County WDACS<\/strong>. \u201cI\u2019m grateful for the leadership of the Board of Supervisors, and our partnership with Alzheimer\u2019s L.A., for supporting the creation and promoting L.A. Found. These free, life-saving tracking devices provide peace of mind to families and family caregivers. Together, we are working to ensure that families have the tools and resources to keep their loved ones safe.\u201d<\/p>\n