Project Lifesaver Program
October 30, 2026 – San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office officials report that a recent search for an elderly man with Alzheimer's disease and dementia in rural Arroyo Grande ended with good news. After being missing for nearly 24 hours, the man was found safe about a quarter mile from his home by Sheriff's Search and Rescue volunteers.
The search involved Deputies, Detectives, Search and Rescue volunteers, drones, K9s, and assistance from agencies outside the county. While this incident had a positive outcome, not every missing person case ends as quickly or successfully. That's why the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office wants to remind families about Project Lifesaver, a program designed to help locate individuals who are at risk of wandering and becoming lost.
Project Lifesaver uses proven radio-tracking technology combined with specially trained search and rescue personnel to locate missing individuals, often in a matter of minutes rather than hours or days.
The program serves vulnerable individuals of all ages who may have Alzheimer’s, dementia, Autism, or any other neurological disorder. Currently, participants enrolled in Project Lifesaver in San Luis Obispo County range in age from just 7 years old to 93 years old.
Related: San Luis Obispo County Sheriff Reports Missing 86-Year-Old Michael Inglis Located Safe
Individuals enrolled in the program wear a personalized, lightweight wristband that continuously emits a radio-tracking signal. If a participant goes missing, their caregiver/loved one will be able to reach the Search and Rescue Project Lifesaver team through the county’s 911 dispatch center, and a specially trained search and rescue team responds with mobile tracking equipment to locate the individual.
The wristband weighs approximately one ounce and transmits a tracking signal every second, 24 hours a day. Project Lifesaver personnel also conduct routine battery replacements and help ensure the wristbands remain properly secured.
The program has demonstrated significant success nationwide, with recovery times averaging less than 30 minutes. By reducing the amount of time a vulnerable person is missing, Project Lifesaver can help prevent potentially dangerous situations, including exposure to extreme weather, injuries, and other life-threatening circumstances.
In addition to operating the tracking equipment, Project Lifesaver team members receive specialized training in communicating with individuals who may have Alzheimer’s, dementia, Autism, or any other neurological disorder. This training helps search teams safely approach individuals who may be confused, frightened, or disoriented and reassure them as they are reunited with their loved ones.
The Sheriff's Office encourages families caring for someone who may be prone to wandering to consider enrolling their loved one in Project Lifesaver before an emergency occurs.
For more information about Project Lifesaver in San Luis Obispo County, or to learn about enrollment, please call (805) 748-6826.
Source & photo: San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office