Elderly Couple Used Morse Code to Escape Facility
By CarolDM
@CarolDM (203422)
Nashville, Tennessee
May 2, 2021 1:18pm CST
I was amazed to read this local Tennessee story about an elderly couple who used morse code to escape their assisted living facility.
The husband learned morse code in the military. He would listen to the staff punch in the numbers for the electric door locks. And figured out the combination.
They were only gone about 30 minutes before someone recognized them. And they were returned to the facility.
Kind of sad but amazing to know the man was still able to use his morse code to figure out the lock.
The couple succeeded in unlocking a door using a keypad and wandering away, in what a report on the incident branded an "elopement."
35 people like this
36 responses
@CarolDM (203422)
• Nashville, Tennessee
2 May 21
@rebelann It depends. There are patients there on different levels. My neighbors are both in an assisted living facility with dementia. It also depends on how much money you have. These types are very expensive. The facility was fined for not keeping a closer watch.
3 people like this
@mildredtabitha (16173)
• Nairobi, Kenya
2 May 21
The knowledge he gained proved rewarding.
5 people like this
@mildredtabitha (16173)
• Nairobi, Kenya
2 May 21
@CarolDM thank you for sharing the link to the article
3 people like this
@m_audrey6788 (58472)
• Germany
2 May 21
I`m just wondering why they are trying to escape 
They are not happy there?
They are not happy there? 5 people like this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104628)
• United States
2 May 21
That is simply precious.
It also shows that that part of his brain is still very active. I hope they will allow him AND his wife more walks. How sweet was it that he took his wife along too?
4 people like this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104628)
• United States
2 May 21
@CarolDM Yes, very impressive. I hope it also makes the family realize they need to try to reach out more. I know the pandemic has made visiting difficult or different, but it's no reason not to reach out more.
4 people like this
@CarolDM (203422)
• Nashville, Tennessee
2 May 21
@ScribbledAdNauseum I agree. Missing my family.
4 people like this
@Prabhatsingh (3537)
• India
2 May 21
But nobody tried to know why he wanted to escape in the first place.
That's sad. 
4 people like this
@CarolDM (203422)
• Nashville, Tennessee
2 May 21
@Prabhatsingh With these mental issues, we do not know what is going on in their minds. Maybe he just wanted to go for a walk.
3 people like this
@Prabhatsingh (3537)
• India
2 May 21
@CarolDM
No no that's actually great how he could still remember his training.
But I just wanted to know why he would have to take such a step.
4 people like this
@snowy22315 (184700)
• United States
2 May 21
My friend who has dementia broke a window in his facility in an attempt to escape. It seems like the couple in question might not need an Assisted Living Faciity all that much.
3 people like this
@snowy22315 (184700)
• United States
2 May 21
@CarolDM I guess they got that done!
2 people like this
@RebeccasFarm (91566)
• Arvada, Colorado
2 May 21
I saw that..what a bond they had..amazing story!!
4 people like this
@RebeccasFarm (91566)
• Arvada, Colorado
2 May 21
@CarolDM Yes so precious and they were so brave.
1 person likes this
@jobelbojel (36449)
• Philippines
2 May 21
He is brilliant to still remember the method and was able to apply it.
4 people like this
@jstory07 (141464)
• Roseburg, Oregon
2 May 21
Most are locked inside for their safety but they do need to go outside once in awhile. Where my mother in law was. The women in her room went outside and fell and broke her arm. She also caught the end table on fire. One lady called her friend all the time and went out the door and left with her friend for a couple of hours.
3 people like this
@Chellezhere (5763)
• United States
2 May 21
I read this article about an hour ago and shared it with a few of my friends and relatives. It truly is amazing what his mind is still able to remember.
3 people like this
@Belexhanns (3431)
• Kampala, Uganda
2 May 21
Its wonderful,the skill he learnt helped him
4 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (110925)
• Marion, Ohio
3 May 21
At least they had a little freedom.
2 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (110925)
• Marion, Ohio
4 May 21
@CarolDM They can be very sneaky about getting out. The last one I worked at had bracelets on the dementia patients that would set off an alarm if they went out a door. Even in wheel chairs they will get a door open.
1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203422)
• Nashville, Tennessee
4 May 21
@wolfgirl569 They are suppose to get more strict now as they were fined.
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23410)
• United Kingdom
2 May 21
What a lovely story & thank God they came to no Harm. It must have been terribly worrying for the staff & families when they got out.
3 people like this
@Hannihar (130213)
• Israel
3 May 21
@CarolDM
I would say good for them for escaping but bad that someone recognized them and they had to go back. Now, I understand more that maybe it was good that someone found them and returned them. Good thing it was someone that did not harm them. If he knows morse code couldn't he figure out the new codes and they could escape again?
2 people like this
@Hannihar (130213)
• Israel
4 May 21
@CarolDM
I understand with those two things yes it is safer for them to be there than out wandering around and not knowing things. I wonder if they have trouble remembering each other. I hope they will watch them closer to make sure that they are inside and not outside and hope they are safe inside.
1 person likes this
