A Silver Alert is a program created by Texas legislation in 2007 to notify the public of missing older adults with a documented mental condition, including Alzheimers disease and other forms of dementia. The program is designed to help locate missing elderly diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer’s. The criteria for activating a Silver Alert in Texas include:

• The missing person is 65 years of age or older.
• The senior citizen has a diagnosed impaired mental condition, and the senior citizen’s disappearance poses a credible threat to their health and safety.
• It is confirmed that an investigation has taken place verifying that the senior citizens disappearance is due to his/her impaired mental condition, and alternative reasons for the senior citizens disappearance have been ruled out.
• The Silver Alert request is within 72 hours of the senior citizens disappearance.

The Texas Department of Public Safety administers the Silver Alert program, and only a law enforcement agency can issue a regional or state Silver Alert. The program is a cooperative public service effort between local law enforcement, news media outlets, business partners, and the public.