The missing person post reminded me of something I want to share

[hedgehog]

Several years ago I pulled up to buy gas. When I went in to pay, there was an elderly lady asking for instructions. She was very well groomed and had an expensive suit on. She was having a terrible time following the instructions and finally left saying something to the effect that she'd grown up in the area and just couldn't figure out where all the new roads had come from. I paid for my gas and it hit me what had been going on. I ran out and caught her to ask more about where she was going. A man at the other pump heard our conversation and came over to help. I was able to flag down a police car to get her some assistance. SHe was either in an early stage of Alzheimer's or having some sort of stroke. If she had driven away, who knows where she could have ended up?

Several times a year it seems as if a family ends up searching for an elderly relative who has wandered away from home or taken the car and not returned. All too often these people are found dead of exposure several days later. If you see anyone who looks at all confused about where they are going, take a few minutes to talk with them and make sure they are alright. You could be saving a life.

[mainegreen]

1. That's a sad story. But good.

Because someone was there to step in.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. My dear hedgehog!

You quite possibly saved her life.......

Thank you for posting this today!

It could help one of us do the same.........:hug:

[hedgehog]

3. Right - I'm not looking for credit, but I like to tell this story because

while we all hear that stroke victims and Alheimer's patients get confused, we may not recognize it when we see it. The fact that this lady was so well dressed really concealed what poor shape she was in. I know when my grandmother had Alzheimer's, she left the house one time and walked three miles back to her old house while everyone was out looking for her.