CHARLESTON, W. Va. (WSAZ) -- It's a problem many families face -- taking care of their loves ones suffering with Alzheimer's disease.

Now Kanawha County has just joined 12 other counties in West Virginia in a program called Project Lifesaver. If an Alzheimer's patient goes missing, a beep can be the lifeline to finding the patient safely and quickly.

"Most people that we go out and look for are usually located within about a half mile from their home, instead of going for hours and hours and maybe even days to track somebody down we hopefully will be able to find them in minutes," Kanawha County Sheriff Mike Rutherford said.

Project Lifesaver is for anyone with a disability which could cause them to wander or become confused.

"It definitely gives you a feeling of comfort if in a case of emergency, which we hope would never happen that you can contact someone and can immediately help you locate your loved one," Laurel Kirksey with the Alzheimer's Association said.

It's quick because if the patient has on a Project Lifesaver bracelet, the sheriff's department can use radio transmitters and electronic tracking equipment to find them quickly.

"With this equipment we can track them right to their location, where an individual by sight may not be able to see," Rutherford said.

Patty and Willard Frye, who suffer from dementia and Alzheimer's, are still missing. They've been gone for more than a month. Just a few weeks ago, a missing Alzheimer's patient from Flatwoods Kentucky was killed on Interstate 64 near Charleston.

The sheriff's department says when someone with Alzheimer's wanders off, the search is often long and difficult.

A project to hopefully save lives and give families some peace of mind. Right now, the sheriff's department has 23 transmitter bracelets. There is a $10/month maintenance fee for the department to come out each month and change the batteries.

If you'd like more information on Project Lifesaver, call 304-357-0150.