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CRYSTAL FALLS -- Taking care of a loved one with Alzheimer's disease or autism is difficult enough without having to worry about what would happen if they wandered away.  Fortunately, police agencies across the Upper Peninsula are being trained in a program to help find people who are lost.

Last week, members of the Michigan State Police Iron River post and the Iron County Sheriff's Department learned to use the Life Tracker system.  By using a radio antenna attached to an equalizer with adjustable frequencies, they were taught to find small locators.

On an Alzheimer's patient, that locator would be attached to a discreet wristband.

"This is not a system which is readily visible," said Sgt. Christine Grabowski of the Michigan State Police Iron River post.  "We can put it on people's ankles and nobody would be able to see it."

Under the training of Marquette County Sheriff Mike Lovelace, officers were sent into the city of Crystal Falls to find locators planted in various places.  Like any training program, there was some confusion, however, all the teams were successful in the end.

"The radio frequencies just needed to be tweaked just a little bit," explained  Iron County sheriff Mark Valesano, after he and his partner got off-track.  "There's an adjustment on the equipment."

The program is inexpensive for users--the only fee is a small monthly charge for keeping the locator battery charged.  For those who can't afford that, however, there is help available through the Iron County Authority on Aging.

"We have the funds now so that if anybody who can't afford to buy the bracelet or keep the batteries up, we can take care of that," said Patricia Jewell, president of the Authority on Aging.

Currently, only three residents in Iron County are participating in the program, however, law enforcement officials are encouraging caregivers to look into Life Tracker to keep their loved ones safe.