Posted on: Friday, July 27, 2001

Editorial
'Safe Return' program makes great good sense

Across O'ahu, police, friends, family and concerned residents have been looking for Masayuki Kubo, who is 80, has Alzheimer's and wandered from his home more than a month ago.

Hope has not faded that he will be found alive and returned to his wife. One reason searchers remain hopeful is that they believe a Good Samaritan may well have taken Kubo in without realizing he is missing.

This is not an isolated scenario. More than 100 Alzheimer's patients have been reported missing on O'ahu in the past 19 months. Two were found dead and seven have not been found.

Safe Return can help. It is a nationwide identification, support and registration program that provides help 24 hours a day when a person with Alzheimer's becomes lost.

The program has proven it works. An East Honolulu woman was found just this week thanks to her Safe Return bracelet.

Families and caregivers of Alzheimer's patients should be encouraged to enroll their loved ones in the program. Tomorrow is Safe Return Registration day. The cost is small — $40 — for the potential return, and financial assistance is available. Call the Alzheimer's Association Aloha Chapter at 591-2771 on O'ahu; 871-5150 on Maui; 959-9151 in Hilo; or toll-free at (877) 43-ALOHA (432-5642) for information.