MILLCREEK — A Millcreek man with advanced stage Alzheimer's was found safe but dehydrated after wandering the streets of Salt Lake County for more than 24 hours.
Derald Nielson, 69, was spotted about 1:15 p.m. Sunday by an off-duty Unified police officer at 6200 S. Redwood Road.
Nielson had minor injuries due to being dehydrated and was taken to the Veterans Administration Hospital for treatment, said Unified Police Lt. Justin Hoyal.
Nielson was last seen at 10 a.m. Saturday by his wife at their home. She went to check on him at noon and he had vanished.
Hoyal said Nielson is a repeated wanderer because of his disease — made more problematic because of his good physical condition.
"He's known to walk and walk great distances," he said.
officers checked on the regular places Nielson frequented in the past during his previous wanderings, but with no luck. Hoyal said it was unclear Sunday what transpired during his latest absence.
"He’s gone significant distances from his home. It is not uncommon for him to walk and just keep walking and get quite a ways from home," he said.