Macomb reaches out to protect the elderly

With special programs, county agencies and police officers are attuned to the needs of senior citizens. By Edward L. Cardenas / The Detroit News CLINTON TOWNSHIP -- The graying of Macomb County has prompted law enforcement and service agencies to adapt to the needs of older residents. From collecting used cellular phones that will be given to senior citizens for emergency calls to a special training academy sponsored by the sheriff's office, efforts are being made to protect the more than 108,000 county residents 65 and older. That represents about 14 percent of the county's population, according to the 2000 census. That number is expected to grow to 232,534, or about 25 percent of the population, by 2030, the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments estimates. "The county is becoming increasingly aware of the needs of seniors," said Karen Bisdorf, interim director of the Macomb County Department of Senior Citizen Services. The department is offering training to police agencies so officers can interact better with elderly residents who may have dementia, an umbrella term for the loss of mental function of the brain such as language, memory, judgment and personality. Some forms of dementia are caused by specific diseases, such as Alzheimer's. Others are simply associated with aging. "(Those with dementia) can't cope in today's environment," said Kathryn Ann Kozlinski of the Macomb County Adult Day Services, which conducts the seminars. Nearly 1,000 officers have taken part in the training, which gives them an overview of dementia and how some traffic violations or actions by seniors may indicate that individuals are suffering from the disease. For example, police may spot drivers who are weaving, making improper turns and running red lights -- violations that might at first seem like someone driving under the influence. Kozlinski said officers might encounter dementia patients who unintentionally walk out of the stores with merchandise and those who report a home invasion when they've unintentionally misplaced something. After officers learned to identify individuals with dementia, they were taught ways to communicate with them. Among the tips are to approach the person with respect, maintain eye contact and establish some type of rapport. Officers further learned about ways they could fill out a report to have a county agency intervene and help families of dementia patients. St. Clair Shores Police Chief Frank Troester knows firsthand about the challenges. He has an uncle with dementia who got disoriented while he was out getting coffee. He was gone for nearly 14 hours before he was found. In a community in which 22 percent of the population is composed of senior citizens -- one of the highest percentages in Macomb County -- the training was needed, Troester said. "This is quality training tailored to our community," he said. "We have a lot of seniors and we need to take on the concerns of all the residents."