This is front page in our paper today. We must remain vigilent.
Parkersburg police are looking for an 82-year-old man with Alzheimer's Disease who has been missing since Tuesday morning. Donald H. Rapson, 2410 Mount Vernon Circle, was shopping with his wife around 11:30 a.m. Tuesday when he went to get something from the vehicle, but instead drove away.
He is 5-foot-6, has hazel eyes and is driving a blue 2004 Ford Freestar with West Virginia plate 1E8118.
Anyone with information is asked to call Parkersburg Police at 424-8444.
Imohr-two years ago my husband got out of his dementia facility. He was in a locked unit in a locked facility and was wearing a wander guard which triggered an alarm. He also tried getting out windows. Fire regs prohibit locking windows. Strangely what worked was putting red stop signs on all windows and he never tried again. Just because they are memory impaired doesn't mean they can't be very crafty.
I encourage everyone to go to my home page - www.thealzheimerspouse.com, and look on the left side. Scroll to Project Lifesaver, and click on. Check with your local sherrif's office to find out if your spouse is eligible for the service.
Report in the news this evening said they found his car out in the country but he was not in it. His family said he was not dressed warmly. He and his wife own a local Christian Supply Store here and that was where he left in the car. Weather tonight is down to 0.
Haven't heard anything about the missing elderly man today.
The newspaper here has an article in the paper reminding people about the Project Lifesaver Program. (See the Home Page of this website) The Sheriff's dept. here said they have 40 in use in our county for Alzhimer patients, autistic people etc. I have been trying to find a way to approach this to my DH and so today we discussed it and he seems agreeable to getting one so next week I am going to proceed with contacting them. I seen a demo of their use and was very impressed but my DH doesn't even wear a watch so I was not sure how he would handle this. Also, because he is not very mobile I was not overly concerned about his being lost. I cannot remember the cost but remember that it was very minimal, I think just the cost of the batteries and the wrist bracelet cannot be removed except by a member of the police department.
If we can get them to wear one I highly recommend everyone get one for your loved one if they are still mobile. I have lost my DH in WallMart and I would be terrified in an airport or where there are a lot of people milling around.
If the gentleman now lost here had been wearing one of the bracelets, he would have been located within a few hours and be home with his family tonight where the temperature is again going to be 0.
When I first started talking to DH about the bracelet and explaining he said "I'm not sure I would want to be found" "What I have been going through the last few years."
I told him, I understand, but if this missing man, who he knows, had been wearing one he would not be out in the cold with very little chance of survival. This struck home today and I am hoping will continue next week so I can get one on him.
My thoughts and prayers are with this gentleman and his family. I do not know what state they are in - if they were local here in Upstate NY - we would have found and returned him to his family the day he 'went' missing. I work daily with Project Lifesaver and cannot say enough good things about this organization. The service and dedication they provide to the families of Alzheimer's patients is beyond compare. Usually the finds are within 30 minutes or less. To date the finds made are 1800 plus, without one loss of life. I will be glad to answer questions anyone may have.
I am responsible for bringing PL into Onondaga County almost 3 years ago and it has been a huge success. My husband still wears his bracelet today even though he now lives in a Nursing Home. He knows if anything should happen to him “My Guys” will be there to help him. He is now a complete invalid and most of his speech is gone. He can and does say “My Guy’s” frequently. This must be deeply imbedded into his brain.
Please everyone, pray for this gentleman and his family. Just try to imagine what the family is dealing with on a daily basis. I know because I have walked in their shoes. My husband was a wanderer for a long time before we had the safety and assurance of Project Lifesaver.
My prayer has to be that someday this wonderful program will be available to anyone and everyone that needs their services. If a family cannot afford to pay the enrollment fee – the program is given to them at no cost. The Sheriff’s deputy that is assigned to the family almost becomes their extended family – bringing a “Peace of Mind” when necessary. Need I say more? All the information anyone needs is available on Joan’s web site or at projectlifesaver.org
rbosh - Thank you for your comments. I am a firm believer in the system and hopefully my DH will be wearing the bracelet next week. He has not been a wanderer but neither has the elderly man at Parkersburg, WV who is now missing. His family thinks he was trying to "go home" to Michigan. His car was found 2 hours from home but he was not in it.
I will rest easier when DH is in the program. I hope and pray this gentleman will be found alive, but given the amount of time lost and the weather, I fear the worse.
So all you posters and lurkers heed the advise from rbosh and check into this wonderful program right away.
I just checked a story from a local TV station in West Virginia on the web. As of this 5:13 pm, he had not yet been found. He had been missing for 3 days when the story was written.
I'm so sorry about that gentleman and his family. They have to be so distraut.
My DH has never been a wanderer--except we do get separated in the grocery store or Wal-Mart. I'm thinking the bracelet would be a very good idea. In fact, I might suggest to him that for both our sakes, perhaps we should both wear one. The last time I mentioned it, he was ok with it.
More than 20 EMS, fire and law enforcement officials searched Thursday and Friday afternoon for a missing elderly man, and for as of Friday night at 11 p.m., the search has ended for the evening.
Captain Mark King with the Wood County Sheriff's Department says they used the helicopter to search for low level heat signatures in the woods near where Donald Rapson's car was found, in Wetzel County.
Captain King says the frigid temperatures have made this search difficult. He says since Rapson had likely been outside for an extended period of time, it's has been much harder to track heat traces because his body temperature would be very low.
Captain King says the average search for an Alzheimer's patient lasts 9 hours, according to a study done in the 1990's.
I got my husband a bracelet and a 'dog tag' type Id from road ID. he never takes it off. Funny, I thought he would be insulted, but he was thrilled that I wanted to make sure i didn't lose him. the other thing I did, for those times that he separates from me when we are in a store (although that doesn't happen so often anymore) is he carries an emergency cell phone. I have found that I can sometimes hear it ring when I'm looking for him, and some nice person might also tell him his phone is ringing. I always tell him to look for a "mommy" like you would tell a kid, and ask them to call, via his cell phone. happily that has never had to happen.
After reading this thread, i just ordered the MedicAlert for my husband. He hasn't wondered yet but I prefer to get this done now so I have piece of mind in case he does.
"NEW MARTINSVILLE - The search for an elderly Parkersburg man ended in tragedy Friday evening. Wetzel County Sheriff James Hoskins said the body of 82-year-old Donald Rapson was found at about 5:45 p.m. in a wooded area not far from his abandoned vehicle."
Perhaps someone who is reluctant to take the keys away will learn from this?
I cannot emphasize enough - Project Lifesaver - go to the home page of this website - www.thealzheimerspouse.com. Look on the left side where all the resources are - scroll down to Project Lifesaver and click on. Contact your local sheriff's office to find out if your county has it.
So sad. And yes, I just wish that whenever a tragedy like this happens it would spark people to reassess the "what ifs." What if the last time "Dad" forgot where the store was he just kept going? and going? and going?
My DH got lost going to the pet store we frequented and had to ask the kids to direct him. A few times he asked me "because things don't look the same." And the final was when he lost his way to a follow up doc appt at an office we'd just been to two days before. He "agreed" not to drive anymore even saying "I don't want to get lost." Problem though, I didn't think I needed to hide the keys. He got in his mind that nobody but he could pick up our kids from high school. He called the office with instructions to get the kids in the office five minutes before the final bell and NOT let them leave with anyone but him. School didn't know what to make of it. He went to the school, got the kids, and were they ever mad (embarrassed). Well, that was our "coming out day." I informed the school of the situation, and DH has NEVER had the keys in his hands since. I see NOW that I should have taken the keys much sooner than I did. November 4 of 2007.
so sad. the family will be feeling guilty for not protecting him from himself i would think in a situation like this. Yes, I agree this poor gentlemans loss of life should be the wakeup call for all who are on the backburner about vehicles and driving. theres no time like the present before tragedy strikes. Divvi
Wow, I feel so bad for this family. Thankfully Dh hasn't driven since about a month into the diagnosis. (he's a gem!) I talked to him about it, and we came the the decision that we wouldn't want him to hurt himself or God for bid anyone else. Now that being said, who knows when he may get the idea to give it one more try. So that's why last night when I was at the dealership buying a new truck and they offered me a LOJack theft deterrent, I came home and investigated it, called back this morning and had them add it. Supposably if the truck is stolen or he takes a joy ride I can call the police and they can find him within hours if not with in minutes. To me it's worth the $700 for the system. Rk
PatB I so agree with you...........................
My thoughts, sympathy, and prayers go to the family in Parkersburg. I will be making reference to this story of what happens when Project Lifesaver is unavailable in an area or when a family does not avail themselves of the program services when the program is available to all residents of a state.
Here in NYS we have only 6 counties covered with 2 more coming on line very soon. We (the Undersheriff and I) go into the community and explain how the program works and who can and will benefit by being fitted with a bracelet. We will do anywhere from a 15 minute presentation to an hour and a half or longer if requested. The presentations are done for Civic, and Charitable Organizations’, Sr. Cit. Groups, Vol. FF, Schools, anywhere and everywhere that there are a few folks present that might benefit from Project Lifesaver information. We have done many Rotary Clubs, Lyons Clubs, Kiwanis, Home Nursing, and Independent Living; everywhere we are invited to speak.
West Virginia should be implementing the program soon – if it hasn’t already been done. It is my understanding that Project Lifesaver will be available to the entire population of the state. All the family has to do is to enroll their family member into the program and the local Sheriff’s Office will do everything else.
I have a cousin that lives in Southern WV who is a medical aide. She has already had to go for the training on the program. The state is training the personnel that works with the elderly and handicapped. She was excited about the training because she knew of my involvement with the program here in NYS.
Again my sympathy goes out to this family along with my thoughts and prayers. Please stay in touch and I will try to do the same. Ruth
Ruth, The program is available in the Parkersburg area of WV, I don't know about the other areas. We are going in next week to check it out. My concern right now is the size and appearance of the bracelet because DH is very much aware of his AD and would not want to stand out (in public). It looks like it is all white with a white plastic band. Do they all look the same?
yes and i read on our website that you may or maynot be accepted due to 'capacity',,i gues they cant take more than they can attend? plus it says you as caregiver must check battery daily and they send out someone once month to change/bracelt and battery.. divvi i will get more info on ours here and to see if DH can be enrolled. the bracelet does look cumbersome. divvi
The bracelet is about the size of a man's wrist watch. It is water proof so they can shower, bathe, and swim without taking the bracelet off. They are white
I put stickers on Ron's - according to what holiday or celebration is going on. I even do NASCAR when Daytona is running. We can always use smiley faces, stars or something like that. If he has hobbies follow his likes so he can recongnize what is on the face of the unit.
Stress to him this will keep him safe and help you to find him should he become lost. Treat it as a positive thing. My husband wears his with pride - he use to show it off to anyone that would look or listen. It does not stand out anymore than a wristwatch. There are 3 different bands it can be put on. A white hospital like band, a nylon flesh colored band (the one my husband wears), or a wire impregnated leather band thar can not be cut. The recievers are all the same white material - but the bands can be different.
Try to make him know that it is your way of caring for him when he is away from you - it works. I can share some of the stories others have used in the past. Good Luck and keep smiling. Ask me lots of questions - if I can not answer them, I will find the answers. I talk with PL at least once a week.
The device is not cumbersome – it is about the size of a man’s wrist watch. The batteries do have to be changed once a month. Each battery has a life of about 45 days. The unit must be checked daily to insure it is working. You either have to check a little red light on the face of the unit to make sure it is flashing once each second, or you have to pass a small black device over the face of the unit to assure the signal is being sent once each second. It is not a difficult thing to do – it takes less than 10 to 15 seconds. As for availability – if your local Sheriff does not have the bracelets available – they can usually get them within about 24 hours. Availability has not been an issue here in NY. I am not sure what you mean by ‘capacity’. A Sheriff’s Deputy comes to your home – changes the battery and the strap each month. This is part of his job if he has been assigned to the program. This is usually done at the convenience of the family. Usually the Deputy becomes a friend of the family and the wearer usually looks forward to the visit. Ruth
For our Canadian Members .............. Project Lifesaver is also availabe in Canada albeit on a very limited basis at this time. If you google Project Lifesaver you will find links to the areas covered at the moment.
Siem has wandered off and got lost three times in the past two weeks. The police brought him home twice. The first time, we were making supper and he said he had to go. I thought he meant to the toilet but I should have been on my guard because he had been talking about going to "find Jeanette." When I realized he was gone I called his brother, some friends in the village and then the police. He was found by the police after just a few moments, riding his bike on a four-lane highway. On the way to Rotterdam where he thinks Jeanette lives. So I started chaining up his bike the moment we get home from somewhere. This is very upsetting to him, he keeps looking at the chain and fidgetting with it but doesn't realize that you need a key to get it off. So I felt sorry for him but thought I was safe. A few days later we were coming home from shopping and he was cycling behind me, because he didn't seem to know the way. When we reached our driveway I looked back but the cyclist who had been following me was someone else -- I don't know how long. This time I called the police immediately, afraid he would be on the highway again. But he was not found. After FIVE HOURS the police wanted me to come to the station to file a missing person report so they could launch a more active search (they had just alerted all officers in the area but not sent out special cars) so I had to drive to the next town to do that. All the while, I kept insisting to the police that there was NO WAY he could ever find his way home. But when I got home, there he was, waiting by the front door. No idea where he had been and of course he couldn't tell me. His brother had been driving around Rotterdam for hours.
SO now when we go cycling I am careful to always stay behind him or beside him never letting him out of my sight for a minute. Problem solved? I never thought he would leave on foot. He HATES walking. But a few nights later (always in the evening when he gets restless) I looked out the window expecting to see him on the driveway where he had been waiting for some guy who was supposed to pick him up, but he was gone. This time I didn't call the police immediately thinking he couldn't have gone far on foot and I could easily find him. But they got him first. He had been at the local gas station trying to pay at the cash register although he had not bought anything. The attendant called the police who were already bringing him home (his address is on his expired driver's licence in his billfold) when I spotted him sitting in the police van. I didn't have to wave them down because they could see that I was looking for him. There were constantly different police officers and they were always very kind and helpful. I think they enjoy doing something positive and friendly like bringing lost AD patients home. But now I'm dreading the thought of having to keep all the doors locked in nice weather?? So far I've just been keeping a close eye on him. But I've got to get one of those GSM devices . . .
I guess you do, J. But to be quite honest, standing and waiting 20 minutes for your spouse to walk twenty feet from street to door with his walker, moaning all the way.. is no picnic either!!
Yesterday they found the body of an 83 years old woman in some blackberries not far from the road. She had disappeared 3 years ago from an Alzheimer's facility in Molalla,OR and never seen again. Apparently there was no sign of foul play - they think she just fells down into the berries and died peacefully (how it could be peaceful I don't know).
This sort of story is so sad. It happened here in our area on 23 Dec.. a man was going to take his dog for a walk at the park where they always go. He had not been known to get lost at that time as best we know from our news accounts. Weeks went by. Finally his beloved dog walked up to a house and because he was wearing a dog tag the family was notified and dog returned a little worse for the wear but ok...they later found his truck some 5 miles from where the farm house was. No signs of foul play..but the man had gone a long way to a place where he used to like to rock hound and it is undsteady ground. To date the man has not been found and the family believes he was hurt at the site and may be gone now. They do not want anyone taking risks in that area to seek him out..They really believe he died and is at peace there in a favorite place.
There was an item in our newspaper a couple of days ago....they were looking for a man who was missing and they found him in a pond a day or so later. He had some form of dementia.