When an 83-year-old Mazomanie man wandered away from his home late at night recently, the Care Trak program proved successful in his safe return.

The elderly man suffers from dementia and was enrolled in Care Trak just a few weeks ago by concerned family members after a previous incident. He was reported missing at about 10:20 p.m., and was found approximately 50 minutes later in the company of a neighbor who had just noticed the man in his backyard.

Care Trak is an organization serving emergency responders nationwide. Participants are fitted with a personalized Care Trak wristband with a battery-operated transmitter, which emits an automatic tracking signal every second, 24-hours a day. Using specialized equipment, this signal can be tracked by our trained deputies.

Care Trak of Dane County emphasizes relationships between law enforcement and the people who may wander before the need may arise for a rescue. Caretakers responsible for a loved one with a history of wandering due to Alzheimer’s, Down Syndrome, or Autism should consider using the program. Trained deputies from the Sheriff’s Office will come to your home and fit the participant with a transmitter that can be used to track their whereabouts if they ever become lost or are missing. Participants must live in Dane County and caregivers will need to test the transmitter daily and change the battery every 60 days.