Renee Lowery Worked for Passage of Silver Alert Resolution

KNOXVILLE, Tenn.— Renee Lowery, a Caris account executive from Greeneville, TN, met with state lawmakers to support a resolution making May Silver Alert Awareness Month. The resolution unanimously passed its first committee, in part due to the hard work of tireless Alzheimer’s Tennessee advocates.

The group met with various Senators and State Representatives to ask them to support the Silver Alert Resolution, SJR 0916, sponsored by Senator Massey. The Silver Alert Resolution will designate May as Silver Alert Awareness Month in Tennessee and promote more awareness among the citizens of the state.

The goal is to achieve through various educational programs an increased awareness among citizens, families living with dementia, media and law enforcement agencies of Tennessee. Silver Alert and Wandering educational packets and a media campaign will be distributed through partnerships with organizations such as Alzheimer’s Tennessee, Tennessee Association of Area Agencies on Aging & Disabilities, Tennessee Association of Adult Day Services, and AARP of Tennessee.

In 2021, the New Silver Alert legislation by Senator Massey and Rep. Faison was passed into law creating a NEW Silver Alert Program. Alzheimer’s Tennessee and advocates across the state worked to help create the NEW Silver Alert program.

The new Silver Alert law requires the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation to provide oversight for and implement a program to assist in the locating of missing, vulnerable citizens. This law has allowed TBI to create a uniform protocol for Silver Alert to be implemented by law enforcement agencies statewide.

Supporters say that the law is already saving lives in Tennessee. Since June 2021, more than 50 Tennesseans have been returned safely to their families through Silver Alerts.