Colin and Claudette Geraghty have been married for 65 years and had attempted to flee their new care home at least once before due to reportedly not liking it at all
An elderly couple have been found after a search was mounted when they fled their care home because they reportedly hated it.
Colin, 89, and Claudette Geraghty, 83, fled Ryman Nellie Melba Retirement Village in south-east Melbourne at about 11:15 am on Saturday. The pair then visited the Glenn Shopping Centre and bought they medication before leaving around midday in their white 2015 Mazda 2.
But their neighbour Sharon Jeikishore alerted staff when she tried to check in on them in the afternoon and got no answer. The couple’s daughter Linda McKelvie was also concerned due to Colin having Alzheimer’s and her mum living with vascular dementia and having seizures.
The couple were missing for about 32 hours before they were located in Maryborough north-west of Melbourne, on Sunday night. Linda said she believed they were unhappy at the facility after they moved into the care home last Tuesday.
Police were alerted earlier last week after the couple first attempted to flee the care home. MailOnline reported Linda said: “I think because they were recently in respite care it was such a change for them.
“They didn’t really like being in care and I think they just wanted to be home together. Dad thinks he can help her … they feel like all their choices are being taken away.”
Colin and Claudette have been married for 65 years after they first met on a dancefloor. Linda said she received messages from her dad on the day the couple fled the care home.
His message reportedly read: “Don’t worry, thank you for your help, I’ll make sure I look after her.” Linda later left a message that urged them to return to the care home.
She said: “Please come home mum and dad, we are all so worried about you. Even the grandkids. We are all so worried about you.”
