Torrance Residents: Keep Loved Ones with Dementia Safe with the Return Home Registry

A Crucial Tool for Families of Loved Ones with Special Needs

The Return Home Registry is an essential program provided by the Torrance Police Department to help families and caregivers quickly locate and safely return individuals who are prone to wandering or getting lost due to certain medical or developmental conditions. This voluntary and free program offers peace of mind for those caring for loved ones who may have difficulty navigating the world on their own.

What is the Return Home Registry?

The Return Home Registry is a proactive initiative designed to assist Torrance Police Officers in locating missing persons, particularly those who may wander due to conditions like Alzheimer’s, Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, or other similar illnesses. It is also available for children with special needs who are at risk of going missing.

The program builds a detailed, searchable database containing essential information and photographs that officers can access immediately to help identify and locate the missing person. This significantly reduces the time it takes to reunite families and ensures individuals who wander are returned safely.

What Does the Return Home Registry Do?

The Return Home Registry is designed to:

1. Quickly locate missing individuals: By providing law enforcement with immediate access to key details, including photographs, the registry helps reduce response time in finding loved ones.
2. Keep families informed: In case someone goes missing, caregivers and family members can rely on the registry to ensure that officers have the necessary information to track down their loved one as quickly as possible.

Who Does It Help?

The program is designed to assist individuals who may be prone to wandering, including:

1. Older adults with conditions like Alzheimer’s disease and dementia
2. Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or Down Syndrome
3. People with Cerebral Palsy or other developmental or cognitive disabilities
4. Children with special needs who may have difficulty communicating or finding their way back home

Caregivers, legal guardians, or family members are the only ones permitted to register someone for this program.

How to Register for the Return Home Registry

Step 1: Online Registration

Caregivers or family members must complete an online registration form, providing the following details for each participant:

1. Name
2. Date of birth
3. Address

Step 2: Receive a Registration Card

Once registered, caregivers will receive a Return Home Registry card, which contains a unique registration number. This card helps officers quickly access the individual’s information when they go missing.

Step 3: Submit Photos

Two photos are required for registration:

1. A full-body photo
2. A head-and-shoulders photo

These photos can be submitted after registration or arrangements can be made with the Torrance Police Department to have the photos taken. Photos can be emailed to [email address removed].

Step 4: Information Updates

It’s important to periodically update the information in the registry. Caregivers may be contacted to verify details, and updated photos can be submitted if significant changes in appearance occur.

Important Things to Know

1. Eligibility: The program is designed for individuals with special needs or developmental conditions, not for those who are missing due to voluntary behavior unrelated to medical conditions.
2. Privacy: The Return Home Registry is HIPAA compliant, meaning it does not collect or share any medical information.
3. Limitations: While this program helps law enforcement reunite families, it does not guarantee the safe return of a loved one.

Contact Information

For further questions or information, please contact the Torrance Police Department’s Community Affairs Division.

For more details and to sign up, visit the Return Home Registry page:

https://www.torranceca.gov/government/police/community-affairs/return-home-registry.