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Man suffering from Alzheimer’s still missing after large search effort

NEW CASTLE, Ind. (WISH) – A search team of dozens of volunteers did not find any trace of a missing man with Alzheimer’s. More than 100 people searched for Larry Tucker for hours Monday.

Tucker was last seen Sunday, Aug. 14, around 8 p.m. after walking away from Addison Place, a senior living community.

His daughter, Lanna Lawson, said people use a code to leave the building and, as far as she knows, Tucker did not know the code.

Lawson said Tucker, who was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, did not have a tracking device.

“I wouldn’t wish this for anyone,” Lawson said. “It’s been the hardest week of our lives.”

Since his disappearance, police have used a helicopter from the Shelbyville National Guard, drones and bloodhounds.

The bloodhounds indicated Tucker may have gotten a ride somewhere near County Road 250 South and Dublin Pike, according to a press release from the Henry County Emergency Management Agency.

Tucker is described as a white man, six feet tall, weighing 185 pounds. He has short gray hair, a beard and blue eyes. He was last seen wearing a black Army baseball hat, a green plaid shirt, black Velcro tennis shoes and jeans.

An employee at Addison Place, speaking over the phone, said employees are cooperating with police and they followed all company policies. The employee declined to comment further.

Resources for families affected by Alzheimer’s

Denise Saxman works with the Alzheimer’s Association’s local chapter. The group encourages families to use a program called Medic-Alert Safe Return.

Participating patients wear jewelry with information about themselves and an emergency phone number. Saxman displayed an example engraved with a phone number and the words “Memory impaired. My name is Jim. Allergic to penicillin.”

“They become used to wearing it. It’s also got a two-handed prong on it so they can’t take it off themselves.”

It costs less than $70 dollars to sign up for the program. Saxman said her team can help some people pay for the service.

David McCormick works with a program for autism, dementia and Alzheimer’s patients called Project LifeSaver. Participating patients wear a device on their ankles or wrists that sends a radio signal to first responders.

First responders use a receiver to help locate the patient.

“We’re here to help those families,” McCormick said. “It could be for one year, it could be for several years, but we’re there to help them in case that loved one does wander away.”

McCormick said, in some counties, families pay for the service.

He works in Hamilton County, where the service is free thanks to donations.

County first responders used the program to track down five people since 2009, according to McCormick.

More than 5 million Americans suffer from Alzheimer’s disease, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.