Missing Elderly Oregon Man Rescued Thanks To Project Lifesaver Bracelet

A 75-year-old Oregon man who went missing from his home on Wednesday afternoon was safely located after a coordinated search aided by Project Lifesaver technology, the Washington County Sheriffs Office said.

The man, considered endangered and without a cellphone, was last seen leaving his residence near SW Scenic Drive in Portland on foot around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday. Deputies were dispatched to the area at approximately 12:50 p.m. and immediately launched a search operation.

Crucially, the man was wearing a Project Lifesaver bracelet — a radio frequency device designed to assist first responders in locating individuals with cognitive disorders who are at risk of wandering. The sheriffs office Search and Rescue team responded to the scene and worked alongside three K-9 teams from the Washington County Sheriffs Office, the Columbia County Sheriffs Office Search and Rescue K-9 unit, and the agencys drone team.

Thanks to the signal from the Project Lifesaver receiver, deputies were able to pinpoint the man’s location with help from Corporal Akin and K-9 Puddles. He was found in a heavily wooded ravine, where he had fallen and was unable to climb out on his own.

Emergency personnel from American Medical Response joined the effort to safely extract the man from the dense foliage. He was transported to a local hospital for further evaluation and care.

Project Lifesaver, a component of the Sheriffs Office Elders Safe Program, provides essential support to families and caregivers of individuals with conditions such as Alzheimers, autism, or other cognitive impairments. The nonprofit initiative equips both families and first responders with the tools needed to quickly find and protect at-risk individuals in critical situations.