The Ellisville Police Department is implementing an Alzheimer's registration program for residents who have a family member with this disease. People with Alzheimer's disease can wander from a safe environment anytime or any place and become lost (even in familiar settings). This can be life-threatening for the individual. Wandering can be caused by several factors, including:
- Agitation
- Anxiety
- Confusion related to time
- Desire to fulfill former obligations, such as going to work or looking after a child
- Fear arising from the misinterpretation of sights and sounds
- Inability to recognize familiar people, places, and objects
- Medication side effects
- Restlessness
- Stress