SOLVING LIFE'S NEXT CHAPTER - Return Me Safe program - part 2

Part 2: When Every Minute Counts Planning Before a Vulnerable Loved One Goes Missing

In Part 2 of Solving Life’s Next Chapter, host Lydia Wietsma continues her important conversation with Nancy Martinez and Officer Nicole Upshaw from the Chandler Police Department about protecting vulnerable seniors and children who may wander or become lost.

Nancy explains how Chandler’s successful Return Me Safe program gives police officers immediate access to important information about participating residents. Families can provide a current photograph, physical description, communication needs, medical or cognitive conditions, and other helpful details before an emergency occurs. If that person goes missing, officers have information available to help identify, locate, and safely return them to their family or caregiver as quickly as possible.

This preparation is especially important for seniors living with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, or another condition that may cause confusion or wandering. When a vulnerable person is missing, every minute counts particularly during Arizona’s extreme summer heat.

If your community does not have a program called Return Me Safe, Nancy encourages families to contact their local police department through its non-emergency phone number. Ask whether the department offers a vulnerable-person registry, special-needs database, wandering-response program, or a similar safety resource. Families may be able to submit a current photograph and description, so officers have helpful information available if their loved one is ever reported missing.

The success of Chandler’s Return Me Safe program, along with the work of the Chandler Police Department’s Behavioral Health Unit, is encouraging other communities to consider similar programs. However, families should not wait for an emergency to learn what resources are available.

Be proactive. Contact your local police department, keep recent photographs of your loved one, update their information regularly, and create a family safety plan. Preparing today could help officers find your vulnerable loved one faster and prevent a frightening situation from becoming a tragedy.

Lydia Wietsma is a Certified Probate Real Estate Specialist (CPRES) and Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES®) who helps seniors and their families navigate life transitions with confidence. She is also the author of Solving Life's Next Chapter, available on Amazon, providing trusted guidance for families facing probate, senior housing decisions, and real estate transitions.

Delivering Solutions for Homes with Reverse Mortgages, Seniors, Military, & Probate. I am a Certified Probate, Reverse Mortgages, Senior, Military Residential Specialist, and handling an inherited property through probate. Working with more difficult cases is my specialty. As an agent and valley resident, I bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise about buying and selling Arizona real estate. You will benefit from my understanding of the area, and I will provide you with up-to-date information on the ever-changing real estate market... I will dedicate myself to listening to your real estate needs and exceeding your expectations. My Areas of Expertise: ✅ Probate and Inherited Property Sales ✅ Reverse Mortgage Real Estate Solutions ✅ Senior Downsizing and Relocation Services ✅ Veteran and Military Family Relocations Helping with solutions for your 

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