The family of an 80-year-old man who disappeared three weeks ago continues to search for him and has concerns about the assisted living facility that was supervising him.
Friends and family of Lubin Phipps gathered for a vigil Friday evening.
Phipps was last seen about 1 p.m. Sept. 18 at a senior picnic at Watkins Regional Park in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, while under the care of Woodmore House Assisted Living, where he resides. He asked to go to the bathroom, then wandered away.
"It makes me feel like the person that was caring for him and taking care of him wasn't really paying attention. Someone in his condition should have been escorted to the bathroom," his daughter Michelle Phipps said.
There was a delay in notifying authorities and the family and that may have hurt their chances of finding Phipps that day, she said.
"The biggest concern is because of the delay in notifying authorities that they weren't able to get a good trace on him," his daughter said.
No one at Woodmore House was available to comment on the family's concerns Friday evening.
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Friends and family continue to search the park and surrounding area every day, also using fliers and social media.
He is 5-feet-6-inches tall, has a thin build (142 pounds), brown eyes and grayish, slicked-backed hair. He was last seen wearing a beige, long-sleeved shirt, tan pants and sandals, but some of his caretakers remember him leaving his home wearing a blue shirt.
He has dementia and is described as a fast and determined walker.
Phipps is originally from the Virgin Islands and speaks with a heavy accent. Police say that much of what he might say to a stranger would likely reference the Virgin Islands.
Anyone with information is asked to call police at 301-459-3232.
If you are caring for a loved one with dementia, you can find tips on caregiver.org.
Anyone who wants to help search for him can email the family at helpfindlp@gmail.com.
