Hikers Find Missing Alzheimer’S Patient

Sun., Jan. 3, 1999

From Staff

Hikers in the Dishman Hills Natural Area found a man Saturday who had been missing for 24 hours.

Albert Anders, 56, who lives in the 5700 block of East 19th Avenue, disappeared between 2 and 5 p.m. Friday, Spokane County Sheriff’s spokesman David Reagan said. Anders has Alzheimer’s disease and has disappeared before, but always eventually realized he was lost and was able to ask for help.

Sheriff’s deputies started looking for Anders at about 7 p.m. Friday. Search and rescue was called in at about 9 p.m. Because Anders is prone to seizures, searchers were particularly concerned about his whereabouts.

Volunteers aided the search Saturday, combing area fields and open space. Then, at about 5 p.m. Saturday, Anders was found in the Camp Caro area by hikers.

He had apparently spent the night outdoors, clad in jeans, walking shoes, a sweatshirt, and lightweight jacket. Temperatures reached an overnight low of 27 degrees.

When he was found, Anders was reportedly confused and disoriented. He was taken to Sacred Heart Medical Center and was in fair condition Saturday.

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