Law enforcement and Alzheimer’s advocates say the rise is driven in part by a rapidly aging population — about 6 out of 10 people with dementia will wander at least once.
Photo illustration of past silver alerts in the Bay Area, all with positive outcomes of the senior being found. The number of Silver Alerts have more than doubled since 2021 in four Bay Area counties. Silver Alerts have become a familiar interruption — phones vibrating sharply as brief descriptions of a missing person flash across screens.
Many are resolved within hours; in about 99% of cases, people are found — often in less than a day. But for families waiting for news of their older or disabled relative, those few hours can feel torturous.— about 6 out of 10 people with dementia will wander at least once. Meanwhile, caregivers are more likely to ask for help, as law enforcement’s use of social media has increased awareness of Silver Alerts. “That speed and visibility reassure families that their call will lead to something meaningful, which likely contributes to the increase in alerts,” said SJPD Sergeant Jorge Garibay. In 2021, there were 39 Silver Alert activations recorded across Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa and San Mateo counties, according to a data analysis by this news organization. In 2025, activations jumped 52% from the previous year, rising to 87 from 57 in 2024. Social media has dramatically expanded the reach of Silver Alerts. With more than 250,000 followers, the California Highway Patrol “CHP Alerts” account on X rapidly distributes alerts to a broad audience.New Medicaid work rules likely to hit middle-aged adults hardThe alert, launched in 2012, is used when an older adult or someone with a developmental or cognitive impairment goes missing and is considered at risk. Before the system is used, local officials must exhaust all means of searching for the person and confirm they fit the criteria for an alert based on age or risk. Once activated, the system quickly shares identifying information with the public in hopes of speeding up the person’s safe recovery. Local Alzheimer’s and aging experts say the increase in Silver Alerts may reflect a broader demographic shift as California’s older population grows. Kristina Lugo, CEO of the senior community center Avenidas, said she has seen firsthand how quickly confusion can escalate. She remembered a woman who once walked from Sunnyvale to Mountain View, mistakenly believing her daughter was trying to keep her from visiting a senior center. Her family ultimately filed a Silver Alert, and she was safely located.“Caregiving for someone with dementia is a 24/7 job,” Lugo said. “This issue needs to be treated more like a community problem.” Claire Day, chief mission and program strategy officer for the Alzheimer’s Association of Northern California and Northern Nevada, said wandering is far more common and unpredictable than many families realize. Alzheimer’s disease can impair a person’s ability to recognize familiar places, and wandering can happen at any stage of the illness, though people in the moderate stages tend to be more likely to roam off. “They’re more cognitively impaired than the early stages, but mobility isn’t yet impaired like in the later stages,” Day explained. Many people who wander do so repeatedly. Often, it’s not random. A person may believe they need to go to work, return “home,” find someone or complete a task. Restlessness and pacing can escalate into leaving the house. In some cases, someone who has safely walked the same route for years may suddenly take a wrong turn. Others may become disoriented while driving. Certain triggers can increase the risk. Changes in routine, crowded or noisy settings and unfamiliar environments can heighten confusion or anxiety. Caregivers may also notice warning signs beforehand, including repeated questions about places or people, or difficulty navigating once-familiar routes. That unpredictability is why Day believes Silver Alerts are part of a broader safety framework. When someone goes missing, the first 24 hours are critical, as the odds of finding the person safe after that begin to drop rapidly, law enforcement said. When requesting the alert, families should call the police and be ready to provide a recent photo and identifying information.At the same time, she emphasized prevention. Families can install home safety measures such as door alarms without restricting a loved one’s freedom, and should educate themselves about wandering risks before a crisis occurs. Keeping a person engaged and maintaining consistent routines can also reduce restlessness.Dear Abby: I don't know how this little gesture alienated me from my son and his wifeWhy the Bay Area has been a tuberculosis hotspot for more than a centuryWhy won't Travelpro repair my carry-on bag? I have a lifetime warranty!Long after leaving Oakland, the A’s are still fighting a West Oakland metal shredder — alongside environmentalists
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