Yesterday I didn't have to work so I had my truck in my backyard loading it up with downed tree branches to take to the recycling center. I heard someone call out and I see a woman that I guessed to be about 75 calling to me. She said she was lost and wanted direction to the 7-11. I told her it was about a mile up the road, easy to find. She then tells me in a heavy accent that she is 88 and can't walk any more. So I told her to sit in my truck and in 10 minutes when I have secured the load, I will take her to the 7-11. As we pull out she then asks if I could drive her home instead? Sure, where do you live? It takes her a minute to remember. The address is within sight of the 7-11. I take her home but I can see the house does not look familiar to her. I'm thinking dementia. She wants to give me money, I won't take anything and drive off to the recycling center. I keep a look out for her on my way home and sure enough she is standing on the highway in front of 7-11 looking lost. I pulled into the parking lot and asked her if she was lost. At first she had no idea who I was, then remembered me and accepted a ride home. She asked if I would come in and talk, but I really didn't want to go inside. Now I wonder if I should have called the police and tell them her address in case someone else finds her and she doesn't know where she lives. She seemed happy, but you could tell she just didn't understand where she was.

I think I would call the police in a case like that, if I suspected dementia.

You can call PD or EMS on the non-emergency line and ask for resources to help her. No guarantees that it will actually get to her but it's a start.

God Bless You for helping her out.
My Mom still lives alone at 92 and if she needs help, I hope she runs into a person like you.

I would have also inquired about her family. If she has any of their phone numbers. Sometimes these are programmed into their cordless land line phone.
One other thing, If you're not sure how long they have been there, see to it they at least have water while you are helping them.

There was a car sitting next to the driveway and the driveway was empty. My guess is that she is being left home alone during the day. I'll talk to my daughter who is an EMT in our section of town and maybe they can get the right contact.

quote:

Originally posted by dsiets:
I would have also inquired about her family. If she has any of their phone numbers. Sometimes these are programmed into their cordless land line phone.
One other thing, If you're not sure how long they have been there, see to it they at least have water while you are helping them.

When I picked her up the second time, she had bought a few bottles of Gatorade at the 7-11. The sad part is that I could see her house from the 7-11.

There are a variety of options available. If the person is in obvious danger the police department. The Welfare Department or Department of Human Services is another option. They typically have social workers who will investigate by doing a home visits and contacting family members if needed.

Call 911 even now for a welfare check. Let them know what is going on and they will send ems out for an eval. and transport to the hospital. She should be evaluated at a hospital and they can determine what help she needs. If she lives alone,she shouldn't be.

211 (United Way) is also an option. They'll send a local charitable contact to meet with family and try to help them with solutions.

Out here in the sticks , we have 3 or four places for seniors .
here is one
https://www.casiseniors.org/

if you could find something similar in your area , they might take the ball and run with it.

Something like that, I would call 911.

We spent New Year’s Eve one time looking for my lost dad. He had Alzheimer’s. Cops were already on the lookout as this was San Francisco. We had family and friends driving up and down. He was found in the far end of downtown having walked from 20th street in Mission District. Two guys called the cops because he looked out of place there at 4am.

God bless you rt. Hopefully your daughter follows up.

On the police side, we take these quite serious and will take over and follow up with family/resources/DSS if necessary.

Nothing can FUBAR a good night much worse than a missing child in the cold or elderly with dementia vanishing. LEOs will do whatever possible to hopefully avoid it happening, and often times are familiar with people who have a habit of wandering off.

I've pulled the "big red lever" a few times for these. Much prefer preventing it, or making it less likely on the front end.

I called the Police today and told them what had happened. They are sending someone over to check on her welfare. I didn't see my daughter yet so rather than go thru her EMS squad, I called the Police.

Yep, call 911. And although I admire your giving spirit in volunteering to drive her home, there's no way I'd let her in my truck. With someone like that, she could accuse you of all sorts of things (and never remember it the next day). Just way too much liability in the world today. Call the police and let them handle it.

I have first hand experience with this type of behavior, you did the correct thing. If you can identify a family member have them get her an ID bracelet offered for people with memory issues. My late wife did the same exact same thing, totally lost with no idea where she lived. The bracelet was the key, it contained an 800# and an ID number. That ID number is connected to a profile of the person will have all the family information and whom to call. That data is private and can only be shared with proper authorities.

Hopefully the police will follow up with the family and she will be Okay.

My mother used to leave the house and get lost a block or so from home. Neighbors would bring her home. My father ended up building an addition on our house to run his Real Estate Business out of. That lasted about a year, then she was bedridden for the next 8-9 years. By then I was married and lived about 20 miles away.

I had a very similar case to that. An elderly man shoplifted from 7-11, and they called to report the theft. When I got there, I found a 90 year old man, confused. He said he didn’t have any food at home so he stole a candy bar because he was hungry. I paid for the “stolen” candy bar, brought the old man home.

Inspected his living arrangements and found a house with no electricity, no running water, no air conditioning (in Florida, in August) not a single ounce of food in the empty pantries. Very sad.

He had no family to look after him.

Department of Children and Families was called and they basically told me that they could do nothing. NOTHING!! I explained that clearly this man was in need of services, and they suggested that I take him home myself if I was so concerned for him. I blew a gasket!

A supervisor got involved, DEMANDED that they come to the house immediately. And when they got there the supervisor threatened to arrest them on the spot for elderly neglect if they didn’t find some services for the man.

Reluctantly, they found a spot for him at an elder care home.

I hate, hate, hate, the incompetent boobs at the FL Dept of Children and families.

If you call Social Services, Adult Protective Services, and voice a concern they are required by law to launch an investigation. You will remain anonymous and they will assign a social worker to investigate.

quote:

Originally posted by RHINOWSO:
I think I would call the police in a case like that, if I suspected dementia.

Yup. Good deed just the same though.