A family in Giffnock is searching for helpful locals who helped a pensioner suffering from dementia after he left his home in the early hours.
Brian Gough, 88, was found in the street in his pyjamas with no shoes on after leaving his house in East Renfrewshire just before 6am. The pensioner suffers from vascular dementia, which has rapidly deteriorated over the past year.
The grandad-of-six told his family he ‘took a wrong turn on the way to the bathroom’ after getting out of bed on September 1.
Luckily, a couple found him and got in touch with the police, who managed to identify Brian and locate his address which he'd forgotten and get him home.
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He was brought home to his wife Janice, 77. His daughter Caroline Stevenson, 53, told the Daily Record: “Anything could have happened to my dad.
“It really has given us all a terrible fright. He has never managed to wander away like this before.
“We don’t know how long he was away but he was frozen when he came back. We are all worried sick about him but he is none the wiser after his little adventure.
“He just said he ‘took a wrong turn on the way to the bathroom’. He needs a zimmer, but didn’t have it with him and has bad balance - it is so incredibly lucky he didn’t fall.
“The police aren’t allowed to tell us anything about the couple who found him because of data protection, but I would love to thank them. I am so grateful someone stopped and helped him.”
Brian was diagnosed three years ago, after becoming confused and disoriented often. His family now care for him, and say they’re thankful he remains lucid.
Speaking of his condition, Caroline said: “Dementia is a horrendous illness, it is the worst disease. It started with him getting a bit mixed up.
“At first we thought it was just his age. It got worse which has been so hard for our family to see.
“He is still lucid though, he just has a very bad memory. Up until three years ago you would never have believed his age until he got dementia.
“Lately it has taken a really sharp dip, and he can be very confused now.”
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Police received a report of concern for a person on Fenwick Road in Giffnock around 5.55am on Thursday, September 1, 2022.
“The man was traced safe and well a short time later and was taken home.”
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