Missing couple with dementia found in Ballard
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SEATTLE - A missing couple with dementia who vanished after a family argument in Everett has been found in Ballard.
Family members had been frantic with worry after the two elderly dementia patients left in a car - both have health issues and no one had seen them for two days.
With no clues to help them, their family spent Sunday driving around aimlessly, looking for any possible evidence that might show where the couple went.
Then, at about 6 p.m. Sunday, they turned up in Ballard, asking for directions from a passer-by.
The two, 85-year-old father James O'Neal and his dear friend, 92-year-old Florence Fisher, were at a Denny's restaurant Friday in Everett when an argument between family members erupted.
The elderly couple took off, and family members spent all day Sunday looking for them and contacting the media.
"We're just trying to think as if he had dementia and in his shoes," says the missing man's daughter, Billie Wilson. "He has the first stages of dementia, and the lady that he's with has severe dementia, and so they both get very confused," says Billie.
James and Florence left Centralia on Friday for their daily drive. Instead of staying near town as usual, they took a road trip - well over 100 miles - intent on visiting family in Everett.
But after arriving in Everett, James ran a red light and got into a minor accident. He was confused and a police officer advised him not to drive. His son came to drive them home, but instead they argued. And at 11:30 Friday night, James and Florence got into their car and left.
There was no way to track the couple. They have no cell phones. They don't use credit cards. And Florence has no identification.
The family was overjoyed when they heard that the couple had made their way to Ballard.
James reportedly had shortness of breath and both of them were taken for a check-up at a local hospital for a check-up, where family members plan to meet them.
Family members had been frantic with worry after the two elderly dementia patients left in a car - both have health issues and no one had seen them for two days.
With no clues to help them, their family spent Sunday driving around aimlessly, looking for any possible evidence that might show where the couple went.
Then, at about 6 p.m. Sunday, they turned up in Ballard, asking for directions from a passer-by.
The two, 85-year-old father James O'Neal and his dear friend, 92-year-old Florence Fisher, were at a Denny's restaurant Friday in Everett when an argument between family members erupted.
The elderly couple took off, and family members spent all day Sunday looking for them and contacting the media.
"We're just trying to think as if he had dementia and in his shoes," says the missing man's daughter, Billie Wilson. "He has the first stages of dementia, and the lady that he's with has severe dementia, and so they both get very confused," says Billie.
James and Florence left Centralia on Friday for their daily drive. Instead of staying near town as usual, they took a road trip - well over 100 miles - intent on visiting family in Everett.
But after arriving in Everett, James ran a red light and got into a minor accident. He was confused and a police officer advised him not to drive. His son came to drive them home, but instead they argued. And at 11:30 Friday night, James and Florence got into their car and left.
There was no way to track the couple. They have no cell phones. They don't use credit cards. And Florence has no identification.
The family was overjoyed when they heard that the couple had made their way to Ballard.
James reportedly had shortness of breath and both of them were taken for a check-up at a local hospital for a check-up, where family members plan to meet them.
I was the Ballard viewer who first saw them on Sunday while out walking my dogs. They stopped to ask me for directions, which I gave them. When I got home 5 minutes later, I happened to turn on the tv, see the news and I realized that James and Florence were the couple I just had spoken with. Without hesitation I jumped in my car and drove around for 15 minutes before finding them about 8 blocks from my home. They were fine, but confused, not realizing they were in Seattle. I stayed with them until the police and fire department showed up. They were then taken to the hospital for a check up.  I am very happy that I was able to help these nice people get home to their families.
Florence is my aunt. I haven't seen her since my mother's funeral, about ten years ago.
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I got a call, turned on the tv, and sure enough there she was getting her twenty minutes of fame.
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All of my aunts have been a demented. But you know what, they have always been happy, even if it meant being a little crazy. And it is pretty cool that she has found someone to play with at 92, we should all be so lucky
@Crystal You are not wrong for feeling uncomfortable with deciding whether your elderly relative is fit to drive. It should not be the responsibility of family members. There needs to be a law requiring yearly licensing exams for those over a certain age. Good eyesight, a sound sense of reality and compliance with the laws of the road are necessities of safe driving. My comment was not meant to personally call out your family, but this event can call attention to the larger issue.
Okay After reading all the comments... I want to clear some things up.
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1. His son did try to follow him and was unable too, because they didn't wait for him. Proper people were notified.
2. The argument was not presay and argument other than a small conversation on not driving.
3. The office said the car was drivalbe, just probably not on the highway.. If the car is truly undriveable the office would not have let them drive away.
4. please understand that he had stage 1 dementia so he was still able to drive and up tell this time knew how to get home. There for there was no reason to take his car key. We are taking the proper steps now to make sure everyone is okay and that nothing happens again.
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Good news. Give them a hug and quit arguing with them. They've earned that.
People that old (with verified mental problems nonetheless) should not be allowed to take "daily drives". It is a danger to others on the road. Glad they were found safe
I want to post a couple things here...
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Update: they are both doing fine now and with there family. Both family are doing what is needed to make sure that something like this doesn't happen again. And is it not that it took them two days to get to ballard they have been driving in seattle lost and not sure where to go. IT wasn't tell an SPD office ran there plates that anyone knew where they were and A Kiro viewer stopped them and gave a better idea of where they were...
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In the state of WA you can't just take away someone driver licenese with out a cause. This time was a cause and needless to say they will not be driving again. As family we did everything in our power to find them as soon as we can to make sure that no one and they were not hurt. We are thankful to all the poeple who did see the report and called 911 to help us track them last night.
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Please remeber that these are poeple family memebers and while you may wonder why where they driving and such not, we have never had a reason to not let them. These two have been going for drives everyday for years now. This is the first time this has happened.
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Thank you again for Komo and Kiro help yesterday with out these two stations helping getting the info out who knows if we would have found them yesterday~!
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 @Crystal so glad everything worked out. When my mother refused to let go of her keys due to severe short term memory problems resulting from dementia, my brother and I had to have her car physically towed away before she hurt someone after 2 accidents in 3 days. It was a huge hassle but in the end the right thing to do.
Glad they are both safe but why are either of them driving?
@Anarchy Why would an anarchist care if they were driving? Should they not be able to do whatever they want?
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 @scout  @Anarchy Apparently, this poster practices SAFE anarchy.
When I was a social worker at Western State Hospital 45 years ago Alzheimer's was described as pre-senile dementia and you had to be under 60 to get the diagnosis. Now most of us use the term interchangeably with Senile Dementia, which is fine for general understanding. Both are one of the most cruel illnesses that happen to families. Watching a loved one's personhood slowly disappear is hard to take. All you that took away cars, keys and driving privileges from family members with this are to be commended.
I am so glad they have been found!
After seeing what dementia did to the vibrant mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and community leader that was Mother Vishess, I have given certain close friends written permission to push me out on the ice floe. With a bucket of Ezells and a sixer of Samuel Adams.
No, smart guy, not tomorrow.Â
@Sid Vishess - dang, you closed that opening before I saw it.. ;-)
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All joking aside, I kind of agree with you. My brother jokes about sending him out in a boat fishing when / if dementia/Alzheimers takes him.
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My dad passed nearly 10 years ago from Alzheimers. I certainly understand your position on your potential future.Â
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What makes me wonder is why they allow this man to continue to have access to a car.  We took my dad's keys away to prevent this kind of thing - AND to prevent anyone from getting hurt while driving due to his diminishing capacity.
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I know it's hard to take away something like an elderly person's right to drive, and it should never be done unless it's necessary, but anyone with this kind of dementia does NOT belong behind the wheel.
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Glad they were found OK, and yes, it would take anyone about two days to drive to Ballard.Â
 @Citizen#3457899654 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBgIvH0tu6Y
Your comment made me remember this ( has nothing to do with the couple in this article, just driving in Ballard).
Oh I am so glad they are alright. Finally some good news.Â
I'm very glad these two were found but I wonder why these folks have car keys to begin with.Â
I'm remembering the demented gentleman with a gun who was shot by police about a week or ten days ago. If this wonderful old couple is driving, don't they pose a risk to themselves and others this way? I realize that taking the keys seriously impacts an older person's independance and pride, but there has to be a point where the family err on the side of safety.
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 @svensson Exactly!  Years ago, our granny had pretty good dementia but they hadn't taken her keys.  She ended up forgetting where she lived, after driving herself somewhere.  The police got involved and she said she lived in Sequim and some kind gentleman offered to drive her there, then have his wife fetch him.  But.......she didn't live there, she lived in Puyallup, and when they entered her empty house for sale (she remembered the garage door code), she lost it, the neighbors came over wondering why her car was in the driveway, and that's when they realized something was wrong.  Realizing what real danger she was in (the guy could have been an ax murderer), they finally took her keys away.  Hopefully this couple's driving days are over too.
Goodness, can you imagine the relief their family felt? Â Whew.
I'm SO glad they were found. This could have ended up MUCH worse, and I think we've had enough bad for one weekend. Have a good week everyone.
"James reportedly had shortness of breath and both of them were taken for a check-up at a local hospital for a check-up, where family members plan to meet them."
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Whew! Glad they were taken for a check up twice just to make sure.
KIRO is reporting that they have been found safe in Ballard. What a blessing for the family. Now comes the hard part... taking the keys.
 @EMDF9A Yes taking the keys away is hard but not nearly as hard as having to explain to a total stranger that their loved one is dead because you didn't want to upset mom or dad. Bravo to you for making the tough decision with your own father.
daily drive !? didn't any family see this coming ? gets to Everett - police are called - the son comes and lets them drive off ? i truly don't understand? obviously the son had a car to come pick them up why didn't he follow them? did someone call the police immediately ? this just sounds too too sad that family weren't a little more attentative. prayers they are found safe and sound and no one is hurt. perhaps it's time for a more secure living arrangement?
He did try to follow them, but while talking to the office they left before he was ready to leave. He tried to find them on I-5, but was unable. At that point he did notify the proper people.
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My prayers that this couple be found safe. That being said, and I know the family doesnt need any more ridicule or stress at this time... but whjat the &*^*(^%^$*&() were you thinking just letting him drive off??? If you couldnt take the keys you should have blocked the car in so he couldnt leave. Dont give me the arguement that doing this is too hard. I've been through it.Â
When my father sideswiped a car with his pickup and didnt stop.. because he didnt think to look inthe other lane and didnt think he hit anyone... I took the keys. Yes, I had to take them when he was asleep. I had to take the truck to my house (I was fortunate that I was also on the title.. a good suggestion to people with elderly parents) He didnt like it, at first... but he soon didnt remember that he even had a pickup
Dad's been gone for over 12 years now. He was in the nursing home for 8 years before he passed... but I also moved home for three years to help my mother care for him. I know the trials of living with dementia.
There is NO EXCUSEÂ for allowing someone who is known to have dementia to drive. PERIOD!
Depending on the stage of dementia you can't just take there keys. There key have been taken now.
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@EMDF9A When my grandma started showing signs of dimentia and forgot how to get home from church we took the keys- BUT she was ok with it- she knew she shouldn't be driving anymore after she got lost making the same trip she had been making weekly for 20+ years. Your suggestion of being on the title is a great one.Â
Aww...the poor things. Good job KOMO - description and license number of the car will help bring them home safely and soon, I hope.
You should never allow a person with dementia behind the wheel of a car. I don't care if you have to physically tackle them and take the keys away. He had already been in one accident that evening and was advised by a police officer not to drive. How do you let him just drive off?
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Not only do I hope these two are found safe and sound I hope they don't hurt anyone else which is a real possibility.
 @Petwlkr I felt like a dirty dog when I asked the DOL to re-examine my mother because she was an accident waiting to happen. She'd go to the store and forget how she got there. she would be concentrating on "getting there" and would blow off stop signs. Finally, they pulled her license.
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These two belong in a locked Alzheimer's facility, which is where mom ended up. She finally passed away last month, though her mind had gone 5 years ago. It was a blessing that she passed.
 @Glassman  @Petwlkr I have repeatedly said that I have much to be grateful for in that my parents died the way they did, while still having good minds, but not living to a terribly old age. Yes, I could have enjoyed them longer, but there would also have been the stiff price to pay that you did.
 @Commenter87643 Well it's not a foregone conclusion that everyone gets alzheimers or dementia when they get old. My Godmother lived into her 90's and the woman was as sharp as a tack to the bitter end.Â
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I get your point though. Noone wants to see their parents go through that. It is an exceptionally cruel disease; especially to those on the outside looking in. I wouldn't wish it on anyone.
 @Glassman I completely understand your feelings of guilt. I don't think any of us is prepared for the mixed bag of emotions that comes with having to be the parent to your parents.Â
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I am glad you stepped in before she hurt herself or someone else and I am sincerely sorry for your loss.
 @Petwlkr My mother has dementia, wouldn't listen to us about driving. After two accidents in three days because of her dementia and refusing to hand over her keys, I called around and found an understanding tow truck company to physically haul the car to a car storage facility until we could figure out the next step. Yes it was a mess dealing with the police when she reported the car stolen-but then didn't remember she reported it was stolen when the cops showed up a few minutes later, it was far easier to deal with that then her getting lost or killing someone because of her memory issues.
 @Petwlkr while what my husband and I did was drastic, I advise anyone to think what would/could happen if they don't give up the keys and let family members, friends and volunteer drivers from community groups to get your loved one where they need to go
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 @BlueJedi Kudos to you for doing what needed to be done. I also have had personal experience dealing with a loved one who was no longer capable of driving but refused to give up his keys. It's a very sad situation. There is a feeling of independence that comes with having your own wheels that most people are none too eager to part with. Especially if they are oblivious to their own diminishing mental capacity. None of us wants to be cast in the role of the bad guy who took mom/dads car away but the potential consequences are too scary for you NOT to act.
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Hope they are found safe and sound :)