Home Safe?

Poor Mr. Ollie. After being 'missing' for about a week from a local nursing home, this 78-year-old gentlemen was found dead just across the street from where he went missing! How does one go missing while in the care of a local nursing home? Is it staff error or neglect? Security failures? Lack of proper planning and/or procedures? The truth is, I know very very well how extremely difficult it can be to keep track of a dementia patient. So, he had dementia and was confused; who in his life did not know that? They have reported that the facility was locked up for security, yet he got out!

Here in Oklahoma there are presently two other senior citizens missing that I am aware of. One has been missing since sometime around Christmas, the other since last Sunday. A Silver Alert was issued for Mr. Edward (88), who left for church on Sunday and has not been seen since. Sadly, I don't even think a year has gone by since another man went missing from a local care center and was found dead in a nearby body of water. It's just NOT acceptable!

Susan has walked away from this house many times. The good thing is that I am always aware of it and deal with it accordingly. Sometimes I just walk at a safe distance behind her so she can feel independent. Other times I stop her before she leaves the property. Susan's attempts to walk off have become so routine around here that even my granddaughter knows what to do.

A few weeks ago Susan again walked off looking for her car, as usual. This time she walked in a direction she had never gone before. Camera in hand, I stood where Susan
couldn’t detect me as she confidently walked toward my neighbor’s house. Victoria (my grandaughter), ran in the house and grabbed on her walking shoes before running back out the door. She flew right past me. My heart melted as I saw her dart toward confused Susan. She gently took her hand while saying things like, “Come on, Susan. It’s this way. Turn around.” Susan complied totally with the gentle leading of her great-granddaughter. I was so proud of them both.

Susan has always come home safely. Ollie did not. Let’s pray for the others who are out there somewhere right now, probably confused and lost. I hope they come across
kind gentle loving hands that will lead them in the right direction.

(Note: I just read that the Silver Alert for Mr Ed was cancelled last night at 12:30 PM. He has apparently been found safe, but there are no details as to where he has been all week. I just hope people were good to him.)<

Thought: The idea of placing someone in a specialized home to keep them safe seems unatainable to me right now. I thinks Susan would be in more danger there then she ever is here. Unless she were drugged down- no, we don't want that.