Silver Alert OR - Lewis Fuqua, 89, left to move his car & didn't return to hospital, has dementia & heart issues, Portland, may drive to Scappoose, 28 Sept 2024

[GuyfromCanada]

A statewide Silver Alert has been issued for an endangered missing man from Portland who has connections to Scappoose.

On Saturday, September 28, 2024 at about 5:30 a.m., Lewis Fuqua, 89, left Providence Portland Medical Center at 4805 Northeast Glisan Street to move his vehicle and never returned. Search efforts so far have been unsuccessful.

Lewis has dementia and becomes confused during the overnight hours. Lewis also has congestive heart failure.

He is believed to be driving his red Toyota Corolla Oregon license plate, 741GNZ.

Lewis is a Caucasian man, 5’3” in height, 140 lbs, last seen wearing a black fleece Salvation Army vest over a dark sweatshirt and blue jeans.

He walks with a cane or a walker.

Lewis previously lived in Scappoose, Oregon, so he could be in that area. Additionally, he had an event with the Salvation Army planned for today at 5325 North Williams Avenue.

If anyone sees Lewis or has information about where he is now, please call 911. If anyone has other helpful information, please contact the Portland Police Missing Persons Unit at missing@police.portlandoregon.gov. The reference case number is 24-248792.

A Silver Alert is a statewide coordinated and cooperative notification and information gathering system used to broadcast information about missing vulnerable adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities, brain injuries, or mental health conditions such as dementia. For a Silver Alert activation, several criteria must be met, including the reasonable belief a missing vulnerable adult is in danger of imminent physical injury or death and there is adequate descriptive information available that, if shared with the public, could help locate the vulnerable adult or their vehicle, in addition to other requirements.

Photo descriptions:
1. Lewis’ face
2. Same photo of Lewis wearing a grey sweatshirt and blue jeans standing
3. Lewis is a white sweatshirt seated at a table

Silver Alert Issued for Missing Portland Man Lewis Fuqua (Photo)

A statewide Silver Alert has been issued for an endangered missing man from Portland who has connections to Scappoose. <br/><br/>On Saturday, September 28, 2024 at about 5:30 a.m., Lewis Fuqua, 89, le...

www.portlandoregon.gov

The distance is about 20 miles.

Google Maps

 

[Chimera]

Hope he is found soon !

Lewis sounds vulnerable.
Question: I know the article says he gets confused during evening hours -- but if that's worsening, and along w/his congestive heart issues -- should he have been driving at all ?
Just wondering.

Possibly drove off the road and is stuck somewhere, do they know what roads he'd take ?
Does he have a phone with him ?
Omo.

 

[GuyfromCanada]

Found safe.

Just before 6 p.m., police said 89-year-old Lewis Fuqua was found late Saturday afternoon in Washington County after a non-injury car crash.

Fuqua is back with family and getting a medical evaluation, police said.

Man with dementia found safe after non-injury car crash in Washington County

A statewide Silver Alert that was issued Saturday has been canceled after the endangered missing Portland man was found safe, the Portland Police Bureau announced.

www.kptv.com

 

[KooshBall]

Good news he was found safe. I'm surprised he was still allowed to drive before this happened. A lady I know had her license revoked at first signs of dementia, because her Dr notified DMV. Maybe that isn't a thing in all states?

 

[realanastasia]

Good news he was found safe. I'm surprised he was still allowed to drive before this happened. A lady I know had her license revoked at first signs of dementia, because her Dr notified DMV. Maybe that isn't a thing in all states?

• “Four states — California, Delaware, Oregon and Pennsylvania — mandate under threat of legal consequences that physicians report diagnoses of dementia to their DMVs.
• New Jersey and Nevada require clinicians to report medical conditions that could pose a potential threat to road safety, though they do not explicitly mention Alzheimer’s disease or cognitive impairment.
• Fourteen states ask drivers to self-report dementia diagnoses, which typically triggers a medical examination or driving test.
• The remaining 32 states and the District of Columbia have no mandates but allow physicians — as well as family members and police officers — to report dementia diagnoses. (Maryland, New Mexico and Texas accept reports )”

Dementia screening mandates for elderly drivers may backfire

Laws requiring doctors to report dementia diagnoses to the DMV may cause some patients to go undiagnosed, according to USC Dornsife research

dornsife.usc.edu

So yes, in Oregon, his doctor could be in legal trouble if the doctor was aware of his dementia. But I am so relieved to hear that he was found safe and that (it sounds like) he didn’t hurt himself or anyone else while driving!

 

[Gemmie]

Lewis sounds vulnerable.
Question: I know the article says he gets confused during evening hours -- but if that's worsening, and along w/his congestive heart issues -- should he have been driving at all ?

Not in my opinion. But good luck getting them to agree with that taking their keys from them. All from personal experience so JMO.

 

[Coppertop15]

A lot of families just keep going. "He's ok, he just can't see well at night" etc ...