Lecanto, FL; June 30 — The Citrus County headquarters for Home Instead Senior Care, located at 4214 Gulf to Lake Hwy in Lecanto, has become the first home health provider in Citrus County to join a campaign to distribute free Human Scent Preservation Kits to the families and caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s and dementia.
Home Instead Branch Director Vickie Williams explains, ”Because the majority of the seniors we care for remain at home, we want to provide them with an extra measure of security in the event that they may wander and become lost.”
Usually referred to as a “Scent Kit,” the Human Scent Preservation Kit is a reliable and inexpensive way to capture and retain a pure human scent to assist scent-tracking Bloodhounds in the event that someone with Alzheimer’s or dementia wanders and goes missing.
A thousand kits are currently being distributed to seniors and their caregivers throughout Citrus County by the non-profit Find-M Friends, an organization that trains Bloodhounds to assists law enforcement agencies in the search for individuals who have gone missing; and Coping with Dementia LLC, an organization that provides counseling and care training to families caring for a loved one with dementia. The free kits were made possible by a grant from the Black Diamond Foundation.
Convenient distribution centers have been set up throughout the county where kits can be picked up free of charge. For additional information and a list of distribution locations, call Linda Boles at 352-613-3486 or e-mail [email protected]; or call Debbie Selsavage at 352-422-3663 or e-mail [email protected].
Pictured receiving Human Scent Preservation Kits for distribution among its clients are Home Instead Director Vickie Williams, Home Care Consultant Jayme Shepherd, and Service Manager Claudette Lansberry. To the right, delivering the kits, is Coping with Dementia LLC President Debbie Selsavage.
Thank you for your comments.
Can I get one fir my 80 year old mother in Hillsborough?
Hello Leah, Thank you so much for your interest in the scent kits for your mother, it is a great idea and to know that the scent can last for up to 7 years. The Alzheimer’s Family Organization has the scent kits, if your mom has a diagnosis of dementia them through a grant we can provide her/you with a kit for free, if she does not have the diagnosis we can send you a kit at our cost of $8.00 and shipping of $4.00. I will email the office and provide them with your email and you can make arrangements for an address for delivery. Please feel free to email your phone number and will forward to the Alzheimer’s Family Organization’s office.
Leah,
You can get a scnet jar from the Alzheimer’s Family Organization. Please call the office and ask about them, 352-616-0170.
do you know if this is available anywhere else nationwide?
They may not have this exact program but we can get you a scent kit, you would have to find out from your local law enforcement if they have “scent discriminating dogs” in their department or somewhere else local. As far as anyone doing the education and awareness of dementia, I do not know of anyone doing what we are doing. We have modeled our training after Teepa Snow. Where are you located?