Manatee commissioners back plan to explore dementia public safety hub
By Lisa Neff
Manatee County commissioners unanimously agreed March 3 to explore creating a centralized hub aimed at helping families, caregivers and first responders better manage the growing number of dementia-related emergencies in the community.
The proposed Dementia Public Safety and Navigation Hub would operate as a 12-month pilot program housed within existing county infrastructure, providing coordination, training and support for incidents involving residents with cognitive impairment.
County Commissioner Bob McCann, who introduced the idea, said the proposal was driven in part by real incidents in the community, including one in which an elderly resident with dementia was mistakenly treated as a threat by police.
“One of the things that happened that was pretty tragic was an 80-year-old walked away from his home and he actually got tased by the police,” McCann said. “When they actually confronted him, you know, he’s a big guy. He confronted them back. There was no way to identify that he had dementia at the time.”
McCann said similar situations occur frequently when individuals with dementia become disoriented and leave their homes, triggering emergency responses.
Advocates say the hub would function as a single point of contact for residents seeking help before a crisis occurs.
Marcy MacPherson, who is working to launch the nonprofit effort behind the project, told commissioners the program would address a growing gap between diagnosis and real-world support systems.
“As Manatee County’s senior population continues to grow, our public safety systems are increasingly responding to non-criminal calls involving cognitive impairment, wandering, altered mental status, caregiver emergencies and repeat dispatches to the same households,” MacPherson said. “These incidents require full deployment. They consume time. They create strain.”
MacPherson also said families often do not know where to turn until a crisis occurs.
“The hub creates a visible trusted point of access within county government — a place where residents can come for guidance preparedness planning and coordinated support,” she said.
The proposal does not request county funding or new construction. Instead, organizers asked the county to identify available space — about 1,000 square feet — within existing facilities for the one-year pilot.
County Commissioner Amanda Ballard said the issue resonated with her personally and reflected a broader demographic reality in Manatee County.
“Our median age in Manatee County is 10 years older than the national average,” she said. “We’re at about 49, whereas the average in the United states is 39. And so, we do have a significant aging population, and with that often comes dementia. For me personally, it’s a very personal issue. My grandmother has Alzheimer’s disease.”
County Commissioner George Kruse described the request as modest compared with other proposals the board receives.
“We get requests from nonprofits all the time. Honestly, this is one of the smallest requests we have received,” Kruse said. “This request is about 1,000 square feet for a 12-month pilot.”
Kruse also noted that many families struggle to find coordinated help after a dementia diagnosis.
“We get asked to help nonprofits all the time,” he said. “This is one of the cheapest asks I think we’ve gotten from anybody. … This is a reasonable request. I mean, they’re not asking for a lot.”
McCann, who has spent decades working in emergency medicine, said hospitals frequently see dementia patients who arrive without identification or clear medical histories.
He said future program elements could include silicone identification bracelets linked to medical records to help first responders quickly recognize dementia patients.
Several residents and professionals spoke during public comment, urging commissioners to support the pilot project.
Speakers included assisted-living administrators, dementia-care professionals and family caregivers.
Key points raised during public comment included:
• Lack of centralized resources for families navigating dementia care.
• Frequent emergency calls involving confused or wandering seniors.
• Growing stress on caregivers and first responders.
• Rising dementia diagnoses in Manatee County.
• Need for public education, training and coordinated support systems.
• Difficulty families face navigating fragmented services.
One speaker estimated that more than 13,000 Manatee County residents are living with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias.
Others shared personal experiences caring for relatives who had wandered from home or required emergency assistance.
After discussion, McCann made a motion directing county staff to work with the advocacy group to develop a plan and determine the space required for the pilot program.
The motion was seconded and approved unanimously.
County staff will now evaluate potential locations and return to the commission with additional details on how the hub could operate.
Supporters say the goal is simple: prevent crises before they happen.
“This proposal is about operational efficiency,” MacPherson said. “It is also about dignity. It is about moving from repetition to structure, from reaction to preparedness, from isolated calls to coordinated response.”