“Mr. Leslie Finney has been safely located,” City of Dallas Police announced on the DPD Beat on June 8, two days after the 70-year-old was reported missing. The police department gave no further details about where or how he was found.
On June 6, the Dallas Police Department issued an alert asking for the public’s assistance in locating the missing man. Finney was last seen at his residence in the 1400 block of Claude Street and may have been driving a grey Ford Focus with Texas license plates.
While it is unclear what led to Finney’s disappearance, dementia and other cognitive disorders increase the likelihood that an elderly person will wander off. When an elderly loved one becomes unsure of where they are or how they arrived, it’s time to act to avoid a dangerous situation, Home Care Assistance advises.
Home Care Assistance outlines five ways to help prevent elderly loved ones from becoming lost. These strategies are most effective when implemented early in the care plan for your loved one.
1. Provide cues for determining time and location;
2. Take a friend for public outings;
3. Make a list of your habits and favorite spots;
4. Put identification information on clothing;
5. Consider hanging up the car keys for good.