I live in TX... a 91 yr old man went to go pay a utility bill a week ago n never went back home. Obviously he lost his way home...He did have dementia.... here's the f*d up thing... the police dept couldn't put out a "silver alert"<--like the amber alert... right away since he a DR. never authorized he had dementia..
They finally decided to put the "silver alert"out yesterday... after 5 days...yes 5 days...
They found him this morning...he passed away...
What are your thoughts on this stupid "silver alert"...I would think at a certain age anyone should qualify for the alert...
It bugs me because my grandpa passed away from alzheimers...
What are your thoughts on this sad event?
2007-12-03 17:57:11 · 5 answers · asked by ♥aman-duh leigh♥ 6 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
His family actually said he was independent he went out all the time ... he had his own vehicle and he had gone to pay the bills many times...they found him in a desert near his truck...
The family went all over the city looking for him since the cops or PIGS here were not very helpful...
2007-12-03 18:13:42 · update #1
i believe that not only the police failed, but the gov't failed as well. we are required to take care of our children, but who, really, is required to take care of an adult? they should have put out some kind of alert after he was gone even a few hours, because at his age, he could have fallen, got lost, been beaten and robbed, or had a medical problem that could have been prevented had he been found earlier. granted, there are alot of people that age that are healthy and sane, but why take that chance? hopefully an autopsy will be done, and in the interest of his family, it was preventable so possible charges could be filed for neglect of the police. and hopefully if charges are filed, a precedent will be set to prevent future incidences like this one.
2007-12-03 18:14:28 · answer #1 · answered by mufasa42 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
So they interview the family and the police determine that he often just goes and does errands and such. No record is on file that he has dementia. The rules are simple...... the entire resources of the law are not going to be engaged in this circumstance. My grandfather died at 102 but until he was 100 he was so lucid and in tune w. the world it was scary even to me...... world traveled and 10 times more educated.
So he was a doctor? If so he should have known. No doctors note if he was not...... it is a family issue. Yes he was 91 and holding on to independance. But his family could have done much. Why did he have to go pay a bill? You can pay those online. A family member could have set up automatic bill pay. Or help him set up his affairs. He as well should have known that any day things could change for him.
It sounds like he was obstinate and his family failed him as well. The police could have done more but the big search w. helicopters does not happen if things are not previously set up properly.
I (in my 40s) told my wife that if I get squirrely later in life just get me a GPS device. For serious cases there is the whole ankle thing. For not so serious there is a watch that has it integrated.
2007-12-04 04:04:23 · answer #2 · answered by jackson 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well, with the elderly (especially those suffering from an illness or medical condition) i would think that the silver alert should be issued immediately (within the time frame of probable cause...... like, to be certain they just didn't wander off to the market and took their time coming home). [As is]. BUT, if his 'dementia' was never made vaild (?) [as in, in his medical file] then they probably treated it like any other reported missing person's case (which, the individual has to be missing 24 hours before filing, i believe). Even so, 5 days is way too long a time frame to wait to issue an alert.
I did not hear of this story.... did his family look for him? Where did they find the body? How far from where he went missing? I think that situation is sad, as it did not have to happen, AND i do not want to think about what he went through before he died. hopefully it wasn't too painful. ♥
2007-12-03 18:06:15 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are plenty of people in their 90's who're still perfectly competent, and can decide to go down to the senior center without having the cops out hunting for them.
The blame here attaches to his family. The 'silver alert' law is pretty clear. His family knew he had Alzheimer's, but never bothered to take the time to file a Dr's note saying that.
If you want to blame anyone, blame them.
Edit...
He had dementia and the family not only didn't report it but let him drive ??????? They should be slung in jail for criminal endangerment.
Richard
2007-12-03 18:03:21 · answer #4 · answered by rickinnocal 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
My personal opinion is I don't think they should have to have a doctors note, they should go by what the family says, and how the family says he acts and if that was normal and things like that......it is very sad what happened to him and I hope the silver alert gets changed.
2007-12-03 18:06:45 · answer #5 · answered by nascar_cr8zy 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋