Posted on May 19, 2012.
An agency spokesperson said an official policy is still being worked out, but until then the department will immediately make families of missing patients aware of the alert, which is intended to help locate missing adults 65 or older, or mentally impaired. The Silver Alert, in effect since 2009, is sent to media outlets, police stations and missing persons agencies specifically to help locate adults in danger.
Margarita Torres, Aaron's mother, said she'd like to see the notification become protocol as soon as possible.
Until then, she said, she worries that families won't be alerted as soon as they should be.