Analyzing State-Based Silver Alert Programs: The Case of North Carolina
J. Scott Brown , Mimai University 
Dawn C. Carr, University of North Carolina 
*Takashi Yamashita, Miami University 

Keywords: silver alert, aging, cognitive impairment

Silver Alert policies have been implemented in more than half of U.S. states over the last 5 years. However, no research to date has examined whether such policies are utilized according to their mission of addressing problems of missing older adults and adults with cognitive impairments. We use data from 2008, 2009 and 2010 Silver Alerts activated in North Carolina (n = 587) to assess utilization patterns using negative binomial regression analysis and exploratory geographic information system approach. Activation of alerts was not associated with the proportion of older population. Additionally,geovisualzied silver alerts data showed that the activations of alerts were geographically unequally clustered around the North Carolina’s political center. We call for more detailed record keeping of individual silver alert cases to critically evaluate the silver alert policy. Also, some suggestions such as use of spatial regression models and issues with currently available statistical analysis software are discussed.