Safe Return
Changes in fee structure for the Safe Return program, effective September 1, 2006. I would appreciate it if you could take the time to read this and pass on the information to both colleagues and families affected by the program:
Enrollment Fee: The fee for the enrollment of the person with dementia remains $40.
Annual Fee: This is new. The annual fee is $20. The Alzheimer's Association (at the national, not local chapter level)will mail out a bill to enrollees annually beginning September 1, 2007. Important: Individuals who enrolled in Safe Return prior to September 1, 2006 will be grandfathered into the system and will NOT be charged an annual fee.
Caregiver Jewelry: Caregiver jewelry will cost $15 rather than $5. Please continue to encourage caregivers to purchase the jewelry, as this is an important feature of the program.
Financial Assistance/Scholarships: Scholarships for enrollment in Safe Return are still available through the chapter. We can provide scholarships for caregiver jewelry, but we will not be providing scholarships for the annual fee. Be aware that National has made it clear that no one will be turned away from the program if they cannot afford it.
For those of you who are assisting people with the completion of the applications:
--Please make sure that the enrollment form has been signed by the primary contact. National will not process these without a signature, and a missing signature causes a delay in the enrollment process.
--Please make sure to completely spell out information (i.e. county name, city, etc.). No abbreviations, please.
--A diagnosis of dementia or AD must be written on the enrollment form under "Diagnosis."
--Please encourage families to send in a picture of the person with dementia. If they do not have a picture with them at the time of application, they can always mail in the picture separately with the person's name, date-of-birth and social security number on the back.
Thank you for taking the time to become familiar with these changes. If you have any questions, please contact me.
Gwen
Gwen Minton, MSW
Helpline & Education Coordinator
Alzheimer's Association, Central New York Chapter
441 W. Kirkpatrick Street, Syracuse, NY 13204
315-472-4201 Phone
315-472-4206 Fax
800-272-3900 24/7 Helpline
gminton@alzcny.org
Website: www.alzcny.org
