There have been quite a few stories in the local news lately about elderly people who have disappeared. Some have wandered off; others have fallen into harm’s way. In all cases, there has been great community cooperation.

Since Florida happens to have more people over the age of 65 than any other state and out over-85 is growing twice as fast as any other state, it is being called to public attention that we are one of the states that has not yet jumped onto the Silver Alert bandwagon. A Silver Alert is much like an Amber Alert, but for the elderly.

A spokesman for the AARP says that Florida has no current plan to implement a Silver Alert system, but that he has high hopes that the topic will come up at the state Legislature during its current session.

Although there is fear that overuse of the system would desensitize the public, I still think a Silver Alert system is a wonderful idea and I would fully support its implementation. I love our elderly population, despite some of the additional headaches you have to endure on the roads to interact with them. I want to see them taken care of in all possible ways.