EL PASO--- With the discovery of a body in the Mission Valley, the search for a missing Alzheimer's patient ends.
73-year-old Miguel Olivas had been missing for nearly two weeks when a train inspector for the Union Pacific Railroad found him along railroad tracks west of the 300 block of N. Nevarez Tuesday afternoon, police said in a statement.
The tracks, we're told, lead to the Olivas home 13 miles away on Chelsea St. in South Central El Paso.
Too distraught to talk on camera, Olivas' daughter told NewsChannel 9 she believes her father was following the tracks, trying to find his way back home.
Yet Denese Watkins of the Alzheimer's Association says Olivas' story is not unheard of.
"Since Mr. Smoot wandered off in Las Cruces, we've had six people who wandered off," said Watkins, referring to Brayton Smoot of Las Cruces, whose body was found half a mile from the retirement home he lived in.
That was just last month...
In the past week, we're told at least four people with Alzheimer's have wandered away from home, said Watkins.
All were found and returned to their homes, but Watkins believes that doesn't take away the fact that this is a disturbing trend.
"It's urgent that people with Alzheimer's and their families...that they step in and find ways to provide support and care for them," said Watkins.
Sometimes that support means knowing what to do when your loved one wanders.
Here is a list provided to us by the Alzheimer's Association, on what to do should your family find your loved one missing:
1. Search the immediate area where the person was last seen
2. If not found after five minutes, contact police right away
Be prepared to answer questions about loved one
Have a recent photo available
Provide a description of what the person was wearing.
3. Call MedicAlert + SafeReturn at 1-800-625-3780 if family member is registered for a bracelet
4. Issue a Silver Alert immediately
Requirements include:
Provide proof of diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease or related dementia
Must be 65 or over and be a Texas resident
Report must be filed within 24 hours of disappearance
If person was driving, you must provide description of vehicle, license plate number, so information can be placed on electronic freeway message boards.
5. Bloodhounds may be called in to search (police must authorize)
Have a recent picture
Provide piece of recently worn clothing in a zip lock bag
'If they're not found within 24 hours, the risk of them coming back safe is greatly greatly reduced," said Watkins.
As for the Olivas family, they're now awaiting an autopsy report that should reveal just how Miguel Olivas died.
El Paso Police do not suspect foul play.
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