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Tafta thanks public for outpouring of support as missing elder is found safe and well after going missing for a day

Tafta thanks public for outpouring of support as missing elder is found safe and well after going missing for a day

Date: 2019-01-18

The Association for the Aged has thanked the caring Durban public for their support in finding missing elder, James de Bryn, who went missing in the Durban CBD on Tuesday, 8 January 2019. "We are completely overwhelmed by the level of support, care and concern shown by community groups, members of the public and Tafta volunteers who worked tirelessly to bring our elder back home," said Tafta CEO Femada Shamam.

Mr James Latty de Bryn, of Tafta John Dunn House, in Wentworth, Durban, was safely transported back home on Wednesday, 9 January after going missing from Addington Hospital in central Durban.

De Bryn, 79 years old, was accompanied by his carer to the hospital, for a routine check-up early on Tuesday morning. De Bryn's carer stood in line to collect his hospital file while he sat nearby to wait. According to the carer, she lost sight of him for just a minute and when she looked up again, he was missing.

The carer quickly alerted hospital staff and after failing to find him in the hospital, and in the surrounding area, alerted Tafta staff and reported him missing at the Point police station. Volunteer search parties were sent out in search of de Bryn and a callout was made on social media platforms which went viral as caring and concerned members of the public shared the missing elder's picture.

After Tafta staff again walked Durban streets on Wednesday morning, 9 January 2019, handing out flyers and posters, de Bryn was spotted by Bulelani Ndlovu, a member of the public, and trainee Metro police officer who had been handed the flyer moments earlier. She then made it her duty to scan the streets as she walked and that is when she spotted the man who bore a strong resemblance to the picture in the flyer.

Ndlovu said that her training has encouraged her to be more alert, especially when it came to caring for the elderly: "We must serve the community, especially the elderly, we must provide good care, service - be patient and accommodate the elderly." Ndlovu added that she was happy that she could be of help to de Bryn and Tafta. After contacting the relevant Tafta manager, Ndlovu waited with de Bryn until he was fetched and transported back home where he was met with a hero's welcome by staff and fellow elders.

De Bryn does not recollect much of his experience, and according to Shamam, the incident has highlighted the importance of managing mental conditions like dementia. "Mr de Bryn is a highly intelligent, high functioning man. He had a momentary lapse in memory and ended up leaving the hospital. Thankfully, good people around him came to his rescue but this incident hopefully highlights the importance of always being aware of people with conditions like dementia and the level of care and attention they require constantly."