Mountain MPP Sophia Aggelonitis is calling for a Silver Alert system to be implemented in Ontario.

A Silver Alert system, based on an initiative in place throughout the U.S. which utilizes media outlets and electronic road signs, would notify the public of a missing person with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia.

About 500,000 Canadians and over 180,000 Ontarians suffer from Alzheimer’s disease or a related form of dementia, Aggelonitis said in a press release after putting forward a resolution at Queen's Park. In 25 years, these numbers are expected to increase to almost 1.3 million and over 380,000 respectively.

Sixty per cent of those with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias wander, said Aggelonitis. A loss of short-term memory and a lack of situational awareness can make wandering a very dangerous symptom.

The amount of time spent wandering is the most critical factor to the survival of those who go missing, she said. The quicker a missing person with dementia is found, the more likely they are to be unhurt and alive.