Family questions how woman left secure long-term care facility

The family of a woman with dementia is questioning how she was able to leave a secure long-term care home and end up missing overnight as the temperature dropped to 25 C.

She was completely underdressed for the weather- Dan Demers, passerby

Emelita Viado, 59, was reported missing from Carlingview Manor onCarling Avenue near Edgeworth Avenue some time after 11 p.m. Thursday. She had walked away from the home wearing only a grey winter jacket, black pants and Crocs, police said.

Dan Demerstold CBC News he had dropped off his wife at work when he noticed Viadoon the sidewalk near Colonnade Road South Friday around 9:20 a.m.He thought something wasn't quite right when he saw that she wasn't wearing anysocks, gloves or a hat.

"She was completely underdressed for the weather and it looked like her fingers were quite frozen," he said, noting that he didn't know how long she hadbeen outside.

"If you're out in bare feet in Crocs in this weather, I imagine she's got some pretty severe frostbite."

He asked her to come into his carand then he went to get his wife so they could find a safe place to take her. While in the car calling local shelters, one of his wife's coworkers called her and told her about the missing person report from Ottawa police.

The couple arranged to meet police at 100 Constellation Dr. where paramedics were waiting to treat Viado, he said.

"The cops were incredibly kind to her," he said.

"I can't believe somebody would end up at Colonnade Road South and nobody knew. Because it's really hard to get there. Like, you really have to go out of your way to get there. It's an industrial area."

Viado's son, Edward Viado, told CBC News his motherwas diagnosed with dementia in November 2016 and her family decided she should live at Carlingview Manor earlier this year. Butnow he'squestioning that decision.

"I thought the facility was locked down. There was no way she could have escaped the building if the elevators were always locked. It just didn't make sense to me," he said.

His mom suffered somefrostbite and was taken to the Ottawa Hospital's Civic campus, where shewas reported to be in otherwise good condition.

Family notified hours after she left

Police knocked on the door oftheir east-end home around 2 a.m.,nearly a half hour after a news release about Emelita Viado'sdisappearance was issued by police. Edward Viado, his brother, and father, Pablo Viado, don't have any other family in the Ottawa area.

She should have been watched. I mean, if they were doing theirjob, this would have never happened.- Edward Viado, Emelita's son

Edward Viado said he was shocked his mother could have gotten out of the facility, which is equipped with a keycode exit and reception desk directly inside the main entrance. It's one of the reasons his family chose Carlingview Manor for Emelita Viadoto live.

"They told me that they had her in sight and then suddenly they somehow lost her. They just kept telling me how they were really sorry and how they should have been more careful.But I don't exactly know how that happened," he said.

"The facility should have been locked down. I still can't seem to wrap my head around it as to why she was able to escape."

He was also worried because his mother was outside overnight asthe temperature dropped to 25 C and felt more like34 with the wind chill.

Police spent night searching

The building and surrounding area were searched before a specialized officer was brought in to organize a search effort, which lasted through the night, said Ottawa police spokesperson Const.Marc Soucy. The facility also captured video of EmelitaViado leaving the building.

Police are investigating how she was able to travel from Carlingview Manor to the area around Woodroffe Avenue and Baseline Road, Soucy said. She didn't have any money with her, but Edward Viado said he thought she may have gotten on an OC Transpo bus.

Carlingview Manor is owned by ReveraRetirement Living & Long Term Care Services, which also runs The Westwood next door to the manor.

Home's owners will investigate

In a statement to CBC, the company's vice-president of operations said they'rethankful EmelitaViado wasfound safe and that they'llconductan internal investigation.

"We are committed to maintaining a safe and secure environment for our residents and have security systems in place to support that," Brooke Allen wrote.

"We, along with the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care, will be investigating the resident's departure and implementing any corrective actions if required."

But for Edward Viado, that's not enough. He said his family will be discussing options for his mother's care.

"She should have been watched. I mean, if they were doing theirjob, this would have never happened," he said.