ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — As the number of people living with dementia continues to grow, the Alzheimer’s Association is advocating for legislation that would create a training course for law enforcement, teaching them how to respond to calls involving someone with dementia.

Jennifer Braisted, the association’s Director of Government affairs, says SB 208 furthers HB 1275, which passed last session and established a “Persons with Disabilities Registry.”

“One of the things we saw was there wasn’t a training component,” Braisted said. “This is really to compliment those efforts.”

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, six in 10 people with dementia will wander, increasing their chances of an encounter with law enforcement. Braisted said training would help law enforcement better understand the different ways the disease can be present.

“If someone who has dementia wanders and they see someone who’s unfamiliar to them, they could act out in a potentially aggressive way,” Braisted explained.

Tracy Sarallo’s mother, Wanda, began wandering after her Alzheimer’s diagnosis. Sarallo said she was usually found by a neighbor, but was always worried things could play out much worse.

“You know it’s a fear you can’t describe,” Sarallo said. “Potentially losing anyone in your family is a scary sort of grief.”

Sarallo is supportive of the proposed legislation. Her mother died four months ago.

“I would do anything that was needed to help increase the awareness and honor my mom, and help people understand it’s not their fault,” Sarallo said. “And I think the more we can be educated and learn to be patient with this disease, regardless of how it presents itself, the better we are as a society taking care of our aging loved ones.”

SB 208 is sponsored by Sen. Danny Burgess (R). A companion bill has also been filed in the house.