State won’t force trackers for ill adults
INDIANAPOLIS – A legislative committee Wednesday considered whether the state should require adults with dementia or other illnesses to wear a tracking device.
But after hearing testimony on some voluntary options, the chairwoman of the Health Finance Commission quickly made clear that Hoosiers shouldn’t be worried about legislators mandating such a requirement.
“Don’t be too concerned about us jumping off the high dive and requiring everyone to have them,” said Sen. Pat Miller, R-Indianapolis.
The idea arose during the last session when legislators were contemplating a Silver Alert system, which went into place in July to help find adults who might have wandered away or gotten lost.
Paul Chase of the AARP told legislators he was concerned about the due-process implications of requiring people to wear monitoring bracelets or anklets.
“It’s an intrusion on their liberty,” he said.
Representatives from the Alzheimer’s Association talked about a voluntary medic alert program that is available. And committee members seemed most intrigued by a national program called Project Lifesaver, which is also voluntary.
Capt. Michael Pruitt, of the Wayne Township Fire Department in Marion County, talked about an Indianapolis program in which 70 at-risk adults or children – many with Alzheimer’s or autism – have volunteered to wear a wristband transmitter.
That program is free to participants; the department uses fundraisers and grants to cover the cost, including new batteries every month.
So far, the department has been called to use the equipment on two missing people and found them both within an hour.
Pruitt said that previously it has sometimes taken hours – and even overnight – to locate a missing person.
“We have had great success with the program,” he said. “It is a great tool. We locate missing persons much quicker and bring them home, and that’s what it’s all about.”
Pruitt, the state coordinator for the program, said about 15 agencies statewide participate, although none are from Allen County or contiguous counties.
The startup cost for the equipment and training is about $7,000.
The panel will make a recommendation regarding the issue in its final report due in November.
Two governors seen as potential 2012 presidential candidates appeared together Thursday night at a fundraiser for the Mississippi Republican Party.