Elder Affairs Sec. Prudom Introduces Future Life-Saving Bloodhound at Senior Day 2020
Elder Affairs Secretary Prudom Introduces Future Life-Saving Bloodhound at Florida Senior Day 2020 Event
January 29, 2020
Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, Department of Elder Affairs Secretary, Richard Prudom introduced a future life-saving bloodhound puppy to the crowd of families, caregivers and elder service providers during Florida’s annual Senior Day event in the Capitol Courtyard. The bloodhound is named Susie Daisy in honor of Representative Scott Plakon’s late wife who passed after a four-year battle with Alzheimer’s Disease.
Rep. Plakon sponsored the Bringing the Lost Home bill which was passed by Florida lawmakers and signed by Governor DeSantis in June 2019. The bill is centered around K9 search services that help law enforcement responders find missing persons with Alzheimer’s Disease and dementia who are at high risk of wandering.
Services provided by Bringing the Lost Home partners, Scent Evidence K9 and The Alzheimer’s Project, are working to protect the 560,000 Floridian’s who have Alzheimer’s Disease. Studies show that 60% will wander and go missing. That number is expected to grow to 720,000 by 2025.
As Florida Dept. of Elder Affairs Secretary, Prudom has led several initiatives, including the Dementia Care and Cure Initiative (DCCI) and Livable Florida, the State’s efforts to make Florida a place where all residents can live well regardless of age or ability.
K9 Susie is being trained by Bringing the Lost Home partner, Scent Evidence K9, to locate and recover missing persons who have wandered using their unique scent. The Bringing the Lost Home bill also provides specialized K9 and Missing Person Protocol training and life-saving Scent Kit programs that enable families and caregivers to collect a loved one’s scent before they wander and go missing. The Scent Kits give K9 responders an uncontaminated scent article to trail and are being distributed to those in need by The Florida Department of Elder Affairs, Tallahassee Memorial Memory Disorder Clinics, and law enforcement agencies in Bay, Sumter, and Seminole Counties who are participating in the Bringing the Lost Home Project.
