Dec 12, 2007 9:00 AM CST

Alzheimer's Patient Found by GPS Tracking Device

GPS Tracking Device Helps To Find Alzheimer Patients

SANTA ROSA COUNTY - Alzheimer's Patient Found By GPS Tracking Device - Milton

It was December 10, 2006 when 80 year-old Donald Middaugh went for a walk, only to get lost and disappear. Scores of search and rescue personnel scattered the area near his Garcon Point home, finally finding him in the woods two days later cold and dehydrated, but alive.

"That was a very fortunate situation," said Scott Haines, Santa Rosa Sheriff's Spokesperson. "That doesn't always occur, and we were lucky to find him."

Exactly one year later, Donald went for a walk and went missing again. His friends and family were immediately worried.

"We drove the ditches all around and we walked all the way up Dickerson City Road, walking the ditches with flashlights to Avalon (Road), in the ditches and by then we realized we wasn't gonna find him," said neighbor Walter Starnes.

Donald's family then called police. But this time, finding him was easier thanks to a GPS monitoring bracelet his wife got from Project Lifesaver after last year's incident.

"In this instance, we were able to locate him within an hour, after getting the equipment on scene to find him," said Haines.

Project Lifesaver is a program set up through Alzheimer's Family Services which not only may have saved a life in this case, but saved a lot of time and money for the Santa Rosa Sheriff's Office.

"We encourage people if they have family members that meet the criteria to be on Project Lifesaver it's definitely worth the time, effort and money to enroll your loved one in this program," said Haines.

"A big relief, and we were really happy knowing that system works," said Starnes. "And maybe down the line there'll be a lot of people that can benefit like Don did."

If you have a loved one with Alzheimer's Disease and would like more information on Project Lifesaver, you can call Alzheimer's Family Services at 478-7790.