Herbert Protocol project aims to help keep loved ones with dementia safe
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FAMILIES in the north-east who have a loved one suffering from dementia are being urged to sign up to a service being offered by Police Scotland.
Supported by Alzheimer Scotland, Health and Social Care Scotland and the Scottish Government the police are running a system called the Herbert Protocol.
This is a form which family members/carers can download from the Police Scotland website and fill in with the person's details. It includes a description, a photo, next of kin/family contacts, but also places with meaning to the person, perhaps a childhood home, old school or workplace, or favourite walks – places someone with dementia may gravitate to for comfort.
The form is then kept in a safe place in the person's home, often in a jar in the fridge for easy to access. Family members can keep an electronic version, perhaps in their email drafts. Then, should they have to make a missing person report it can be easily and quickly sent to police and help officers locate vulnerable missing people with dementia as quickly as possible.
Police forces across the country use the scheme, which is named after George Herbert, a war veteran of the Normandy landings, who had dementia and sadly died while he was 'missing' on his way to his childhood home.
For more about the Herbert Protocol and download the form visit http://ow.ly/zcaV50GdXTU
