Silver Alerts in Arizona: How They Work, Who They’re For, and When to Call

In Arizona, it is estimated that more than 150,000 people are living with Alzheimer’s disease, and over 100,000 adults are living with developmental disabilities. For many families, nursing homes serve as a vital safeguard for their loved ones with Alzheimer’s, dementia, or other cognitive disabilities. However, not all facilities are up to the task of protecting these valuable members of our communities, as evidenced by the frighteningly high rates of wandering and elopement within elder care facilities.

Arizona’s Silver Alert system was established to offer caregivers, family members and law enforcement a consistent protocol for addressing wandering and elopement incidents among vulnerable populations. Let’s take a closer look at the history and function of Arizona’s Silver Alert system and discuss how families can respond if an elderly loved one goes missing from their care facility.

What is the Silver Alert system?

Enacted by the Arizona Legislature in 2014 and revised in 2018, the Silver Alert program is designed to help law enforcement agencies more swiftly locate missing persons over the age of 65, as well as adults with cognitive and memory-related disabilities. The system operates similarly to the America’s Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response (Amber) Alert in that it broadcasts widespread alerts via media networks, mobile devices and highway signs to help get the word out about missing persons.

This rapid notification system enlists public assistance and coordinates law enforcement efforts across jurisdictions, thereby boosting the chances of a swift and safe recovery. By disseminating information promptly through multiple channels, Silver Alerts bolster search efforts and encourage community involvement. Time is of the essence when a vulnerable person goes missing, and even a single tip from someone who has seen a Silver Alert can be instrumental in bringing a case to a positive resolution.

Eligibility criteria for a Silver Alert in Arizona

While many assume that Silver Alerts are exclusively intended for missing persons cases involving senior citizens with dementia, Arizona’s Silver Alert protocols can be applied a bit more broadly, as long as certain criteria apply.

To issue a Silver Alert in Arizona, all of the following conditions must be met:

• Age or condition: A Silver Alert may be issued if a missing person is 65 years of age or older OR if the missing person has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, dementia, or a developmental disability.
• Circumstances: The person has gone missing under unexplained or suspicious circumstances, and their disappearance poses a credible threat to their health and safety due to age, health, mental or physical disability, environment or weather conditions, the involvement of a dangerous person, or “other factors that indicate peril.”
• Exhaustion of local resources: Before a Silver Alert can be issued, it must first be demonstrated that all other potential resources have been exhausted in the search effort, such as be on the lookout (BOLO) notices, all-points bulletins (APBs), flyers, phone records, etc.

If law enforcement determines that all of the aforementioned criteria have been met in a case, a Silver Alert may be issued to help aid in the search efforts. In order to determine whether all of the required conditions apply in these cases, authorities may consult with family members, care staff, or other potential sources to gather pertinent information about the missing person and the circumstances surrounding their disappearance.

This due diligence helps to ensure that the Silver Alert system is being properly utilized and that resources are not being monopolized in situations where a person has “gone off the grid” voluntarily or has been otherwise erroneously reported as missing. While these guidelines may appear somewhat burdensome or restrictive, in the long run, this vetting method helps to ensure the system functions properly for all vulnerable people and contributes to better case outcomes across the board.

It is worth noting that, as of 2025, the Arizona State Legislature is considering a bill that would revise current Silver Alert legislation by broadening the qualification criteria. If this bill is enacted, Silver Alerts could be issued in the disappearance of adults aged 60 and older, rather than 65 and older. The revision would also establish that any person with a disability (beyond developmental disabilities) could qualify for a Silver Alert.

What happens after a missing senior is found?

Upon the safe recovery of a missing senior, it is imperative to notify law enforcement immediately so that search efforts can cease. Prompt communication between agencies and departments can help to ensure that resources are efficiently redirected and prevent unnecessary expenditures of both money and manpower. Just as timely activation of a Silver Alert can be vital in missing persons cases, timely deactivation of a Silver Alert can also play a critical role in ensuring the continued success of the Silver Alert system.

The dangers of wandering and elopement

Wandering and elopement can be particularly dangerous in places like Arizona because high temperatures pose significant threats to elderly individuals and those with certain disabilities. If a resident in a care facility wanders away from safety, he or she could become lost or disoriented and struggle to find their way back. Prolonged exposure to high temperatures and other weather conditions can vastly increase the risks associated with a person’s disappearance and result in more substantial long-term consequences once that person is recovered.

There are many other risks associated with vulnerable people disappearing. Some of these additional risks include:

• Falls
• Traffic accidents
• Drowning
• Malnutrition
• Dehydration
• Medical emergencies
• Psychological distress

In the worst cases, wandering and elopement can result in serious physical harm and even death for elderly and vulnerable individuals. This is why it is so crucial for caregivers and nursing home facilities to safeguard against wandering and elopement incidents.

Wandering and elopement in care facilities: What Arizonans need to know

Research suggests that 31% of nursing home residents wander at least once, which makes wandering and elopement one of the more common risks associated with nursing home residency. As we’ve already discussed, these incidents can have incredibly dire consequences for residents and their families, so it is vital that elder care facilities recognize and safeguard against these very real dangers.

One of the major contributing factors to the alarmingly high rates of wandering in elder care facilities is understaffing. In a post-COVID survey, 94% of nursing home providers reported that they were experiencing staffing shortages, making it far too easy for residents to slip through the cracks. Insufficient supervision can directly result in residents leaving nursing facilities without supervision for untold lengths of time and significantly increase the risk of lasting harm.

For these reasons, it is crucial for nursing homes to take preventative measures against resident elopement. This means maintaining adequate staffing ratios, as well as employing safety and security protocols designed to impede residents in their efforts to leave the grounds unsupervised. Nursing homes that cut corners in these respects place their residents at an increased risk of dangerous elopement incidents that can have incredibly harmful effects on residents, family members, and the community at large.

It is also important for families to do their due diligence when selecting a facility for a loved one. Families can ask about staffing ratios and safety protocols while touring various facilities to determine whether a nursing home is adequately equipped to ensure their loved ones’ safety. Word-of-mouth can also be valuable in helping make these decisions, as other community members can often provide first-hand accounts of their experiences with different facilities within the community.

What to do if a loved one goes missing

If an elderly or disabled loved one suddenly goes missing while under the care of a nursing home or similar facility, there are a few things you should do right away:

• Exhaust all available resources: If your loved one has been missing for less than 15 minutes, the facility should immediately initiate a search of property and any nearby areas, including ponds, forests, and local businesses within walking distance.
• Contact local law enforcement: If your loved one is not found within 15 minutes of this initial search, you should contact law enforcement immediately to provide helpful information about your loved one. You will likely need to provide demographic information like the person’s age, height, and weight, in addition to any relevant information about his or her physical abilities, cognitive condition and overall health. You will likely also be asked to provide recent photographs of your loved one to aid in the search.
• Notify law enforcement of recovery: Once a loved one is found, you should notify law enforcement right away so any active Silver Alerts can be canceled.
• Get legal guidance: Contact an elder abuse attorney to determine whether your loved one’s disappearance was the result of their nursing home’s negligence and to take any necessary legal action.

How an elder abuse attorney can help

If you have experienced the disappearance of a loved one while they were being cared for by a nursing home, you may have legal recourse to seek compensation for the facility’s negligence. This course of action is most appropriate in cases of elopement, where an elderly person left a facility and suffered physical injuries or wrongful death as a result of their disappearance. Rapidly resolved elopement incidents may not rise to the legal standard necessary to pursue legal action.

The attorneys at Garcia & Artigliere can help you determine whether you have a viable case against your loved one’s nursing home facility and aid in your efforts to seek compensation for any medical bills, pain and suffering, disfigurement, or loss of quality of life that may have resulted from an elopement incident. With the right resources, tools and expertise, elder abuse attorneys can help mitigate the long-term financial and emotional impact of wandering and elopement incidents and enable elders and their families to maximize the value of the precious time they have together.

Reach out today to learn more about how our experienced team can support your family in the face of elder abuse, neglect, or negligence, and let’s work together to make the world a safer place for people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities.