The tragic death of an elderly woman with Alzheimers who froze to death early Monday in Toronto has resulted in a plea from the Executive Director of the Alzheimers Society of North East Simcoe County.
Leila Sherriff says if someone with dementia goes missing the very first thing you should do is can 911 as the police have a very effective way of searching for a person with alzheimers.
Toronto Police say the woman,who suffers from Alzheimer’s disease, had wandered away from her home and had no pulse when she was found in minus 20 degree temperatures.
Police say the woman’s husband had last seen his wife about 2 a.m. and he called police and a search was launched.
However police also say neighbours heard the woman crying out in distress but no one called 911 or came to her aid.
Sherriff says having been a former police dispatcher in Toronto she understands why people may be reluctant to call 911.
She says its vital that if any one hears anything unusual in the middle of the night they should call police so they can check it out.
Sherriff says if that had happened early Monday morning, it would have probably saved that woman’s life.
She also says there are several things people can do to ensure a loved one with Alzheimers is protected.
One way is by putting alarms on the doors or disguise doors so they look like bookcases so the person with dementia does not actually remember its a door that leads out of the house.
Sherriff says the local Alzheimers Branch here in Orillia has a wealth of information to help people protect their loved ones who may have Alzheimers.
