Missing elderly couple found safe, again

By Denise Dick

POLAND — An elderly township couple missing for more than 24 hours was found unharmed in Connecticut, but there are steps caregivers and loved ones of elderly wanderers can take to try to avoid similar occurrences.

Joseph Romito, 83, and his wife, Mary Alice, 76, who live in the township, were found Wednesday evening in New Milford, Conn., after they were reported missing late Tuesday afternoon by their son, Joseph, of Campbell.

Police Chief Brian Goodin said the couple tried to use a credit card to buy gasoline about 6 p.m. Wednesday in Connecticut. The credit card account had been flagged, so the clerk at the gas station contacted police.

Police and family members had contacted the credit-card company after the Romitos were reported missing. New Milford Police contacted township police, Goodin said.

“They said they appeared to be in good condition,” the chief said.

The couple’s son said that he hadn’t yet spoken to his parents but that they were expected to return home Thursday.

Last weekend, the couple was reported missing and located at the Canadian border.

Ohio’s Missing Adult Alert reported that Mary Alice Romito suffers from Alzheimer’s disease and gets driven around to calm her down so she can sleep. Joseph Romito is easily confused and has gotten lost in the past, the alert says.

The Mahoning County sheriff’s office’s Senior Watch Unit works with U.S. Search, Rescue and Recovery to help locate seniors reported missing. The agency wasn’t involved in the Romitos’ case, however.

A caregiver or loved one of a missing adult may call (866) 387-7277. “That first call puts us on alert,” said Kay Lavelle, senior services coordinator at the sheriff’s department.

If the person isn’t found quickly, the caregiver or loved one is asked to call a second time.

“With the second call, we’re on our way,” Lavelle said.

When someone enrolls a loved one who may wander in the senior-watch program, he completes an eight-page wanderer’s report with detailed information about the individual.

“We just received a donation from the Eagles to buy an adult identification system,” Lavelle said.

Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie 213 in Youngstown donated $5,000 to the senior services unit for the device that will put vital information about a potential wanderer including a description, medications they take, photo and video onto a disc. The family or people responsible for the elderly person’s care would keep the disc, but it could be used by law enforcement involved in a search if the person wanders.

“It would be helpful to have that information right there,” Lavelle said.

The Web site of the Alzheimer’s Association says that 60 percent of people with dementia will wander at some point.

“It’s a real problem,” said Lisa Solley, the Area Agency on Aging 11’s chief of community relations, wellness and training.

If a loved one has a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s or dementia, Solley suggests informing relatives, neighbors and local law enforcement.

“Pre-planning is the most important thing,” she said.

When a person is emotional and worried, they don’t always think straight, so having information about medications and medical conditions readily available helps.

“When people have a baby, they baby-proof their house,” Solley said. “It’s not much different when there’s someone with Alzheimer’s disease.”

Though she cautions against locking someone with dementia inside a home, installing deadbolts can provide a safeguard to prevent or discourage wandering.

But wandering can be caused by things other than such a dire diagnosis, Solley said. Sometimes it’s a symptom of a new medication or change in dosage.

WHERE TO TURN | Resources

To call for assistance:

Ohio’s Missing Adult Alert: Call local law enforcement, 911, or (866) 693-9171. This is a statewide emergency alert program involving many state agencies, including the Ohio Attorney General’s Office.

(866) 387-7277: U.S. Search, Rescue and Recovery Corps., a volunteer organization that searches for missing people. The organization works with the senior services unit of the Mahoning County Sheriff’s office.

211: Community services and information and referral in Mahoning and Trumbull counties. Crisis intervention specialists are available for callers.

(800) 686-7367: Area Agency on Aging 11, 25 East Boardman St., Youngstown, Ohio 44503, screening department, which provides professional consultation, information and referral.

(800) 686-7367: Resource guides for older adults with phone numbers from everything to meals to medical supplies.

(800) 589-5826: Long-term care ombudsman. Professional staff and volunteers assist consumers and advocates for residents in nursing homes and adult day-care facilities.

(330) 788-9755: Alzheimer’s Assistance and Referral Network

Area Agency on Aging Web sites include:

www.aaa11.org – Area Agency on Aging 11

www.goldenbuckeye.com – Ohio Department of Aging

www.governor.ohio.gov/obb – The Ohio Benefits Bank

Sources: Ohio Missing Adult Alert and Area Agency on Aging 11