TORONTO - Premier Dalton McGuinty says Ontario will develop a province-wide system to help find missing seniors with Alzheimer's and other cognitive impairments.
McGuinty says the advisory is a simple and cost-efficient way to help families and seniors deal with what can be a traumatic event by creating a community-based alert system that allows for a quick and efficient response.
He says the government will work with police and Alzheimer's organizations to ensure the right kind of program is put into place.
The "Silver Advisory" is similar to the Amber Alerts used when children go missing and will be in effect next year.
More than 180,000 Ontarians have some form of dementia, and McGuinty says that in nine years that number will grow to 250,000.
The program will be the first of its kind in Canada, although such programs have already proven to be a success in 12 American states.
