Autism/Dementia Assistance
The Folsom Police Department offers two programs to help assist families and caregivers of individuals with autism, Alzheimer's disease or similar conditions that may make them likely to wander from caregivers.
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H.E.L.P.- Help Every Lost Person
H.E.L.P.
H.E.L.P. (Help Every Lost Person) for those who may wander away and become lost or confused due to Alzheimer’s, dementia, autism, or other mental or developmental disabilities.
This program assists police officers in locating your loved ones in the event they go missing. It also assists police officers should they come across a missing person who is unable to provide personal information.
Although all reasonable efforts will be made to locate and provide assistance to special needs citizens, participation in the program is voluntary and cannot provide complete assurance for every situation.
Register for H.E.L.P.
Please complete the H.E.L.P. form and, along with a current photograph of your loved one, return to the Folsom Police Department at 46 Natoma Street (Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-4 p.m.; closed Wednesdays) or via email. Once you registered a loved one in this program, someone will contact you every six months to ensure that the information is still current and accurate.
For questions regarding the H.E.L.P. program, please contact HELPprogram@folsom.ca.us.
Project Lifesaver
Project Lifesaver Requirements
To participate in Folsom Police Department's Project Lifesaver Program, the prospective client must:
- Live within the city limits of Folsom.
- Be diagnosed by a certified physician as having Alzheimer's Disease, other dementia disorders, autism, Down syndrome, or similar disorders.
- Be known to wander away from caregivers.
How it works
The administrator of Folsom Police Department's Project Lifesaver program will give qualified participants a plastic bracelet containing a water resistant radio transmitter. Each participant's transmitter is assigned a radio frequency that is unique both to them and to their geographical area of Folsom. The bracelets may be worn on the client's wrist or ankle. If a Project Lifesaver client goes missing, the caregiver should contact the Folsom Police Department immediately by calling 911. Trained officers will respond to the location and begin searching for the missing person using Project Lifesaver radio-frequency tracking equipment.
Project Lifesaver is a free voluntary program. However, the bracelets will be issued in a first-come, first-served basis to those residents who meet the eligibility requirements.
In order to participate, caretakers must agree to assume the following responsibilities:
- Test the client's radio transmitter battery daily.
- Check the condition of the bracelet daily.
- Maintain a monthly log sheet provided by the Project Lifesaver Team.
- Notify the Folsom Police Department's Project Lifesaver Team promptly if there are any problems with the equipment.
- Most important, immediately call 911 if a Project Lifesaver client goes missing.
Application To-Do List
Think Project Lifesaver may be the right program for your family member? Please complete the following steps:
- Complete the appropriate Project Lifesaver Client Profile-Personal Data Questionnaire. Please be sure to select the correct questionnaire for the client's age.
- Read through and sign the Project Lifesaver Program Contract.
- Obtain a doctor's note which includes the diagnosis and doctor's signature.
- Return all items in a single envelope to Folsom Police Department, Attn: Project Lifesaver, 46 Natoma St, Folsom, CA 95630.
Please be sure to make and keep copies of all records for your files.
Important Project Lifesaver Documents/Applications:
Project Lifesaver Informational Brochure (pdf)
Project Lifesaver Client Profile-Personal Data Questionnaire- Adult (pdf)
Project Lifesaver Client Profile- Personal Data Questionnaire- Child (pdf)
Project Lifesaver Contract (pdf)
Vitals Aware ServicesTM
Program Background
Folsom is home to hundreds of people with Alzheimer's, Dementia, Down syndrome, Autism or other intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Statistically, more than half of these individuals will wander at some point and become lost. Due to their conditions, they may be fearful of others, unable to verbalize who they are or where they belong, or even to respond to the first responders or others who may be looking for them.
Vitals Aware ServicesTM is designed to help individuals with various conditions and disabilities communicate with first responders in real-time -- allowing for safe interactions, a deeper understanding and an enhanced person-centered care approach.
Click here for more information about Vitals Aware ServicesTM
How does it work
Each VitalsTM client or their caregiver completes and manages their personal profile that includes important information about the VitalsTM client that can be voluntarily shared with law enforcement or other first responders.
VitalsTM provides each client with an assigned VitalsTM beacon that transmits a private and secure signal to authorized first responders that are within 80 feet- allowing them access to critical information about the client.
First responders are notified in real-time that they are in proximity to a VitalsTM client and are automatically given the personalized information provided by the client or caregiver, allowing them to have a better interaction with the client and allowing them to better assist them to safety or back to their caregiver.
Application To-Do List
Think VitalsTM might be the right program for your family member? Please complete the following steps:
- Complete the appropriate VitalsTM application. Please be sure to select the correct questionnaire for the client's age.
- Return the application to Folsom Police Department, Attn: VitalsTM, 46 Natoma St, Folsom, CA 95630.
- A Folsom Police Department Representative will contact you with information about how to set-up your client profile and receive your beacon.
Please be sure to make and keep copies of all records for your files.