L.A. County’s L.A. Found Program: A Beacon of Hope for Families
Living with a loved one who has a cognitive disability can be a rollercoaster of emotions – the love and joy are often intertwined with fear and anxiety. One of the most pressing concerns for families is the risk of their loved one wandering off and getting lost. This fear became a reality for Janet Rivera, who cares for her 79-year-old mother with dementia and her 25-year-old son with fragile X syndrome. Both have a tendency to wander, making everyday life a constant worry.
But there’s hope. L.A. Found, a county program, offers free wearable tracking devices that help families locate missing individuals with cognitive impairments. Rivera received two wristbands, each emitting a radio signal that can be tracked by the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department if her loved ones go missing.
The program has been a game-changer for Rivera, giving her peace of mind and allowing her family members to maintain some independence. “You don’t know how much this helps us with our stress as a caregiver, for our peace of mind,” she said.
L.A. Found offers more than just devices. Families receive in-home safety training, educational resources, and support services to prevent wandering and ensure safer living environments.
The program was born out of tragedy. In 2016, Kirk Moody’s wife, Nancy Paulikas, wandered off from the L.A. County Museum of Art and remained missing for over two years. Her remains were later found, and Moody worked with officials to create L.A. Found, a program that has since become a lifeline for families.
L.A. Found now offers two tracking options: a radio-frequency wristband and a GPS-enabled smartwatch. These tools, combined with the program’s comprehensive support, are giving families like Rivera’s the confidence to live life without the constant fear of losing a loved one.
The program is a testament to the power of community, technology, and compassion coming together to make a difference. As L.A. Found continues to grow, it’s sending a clear message: people with cognitive disabilities deserve safety, dignity, and freedom – and families deserve peace of mind.
