KEY LARGO, Fla. – Volunteers from the Monroe County Sheriff's Office cleaned a 77-year-old man's home Thursday in Key Largo to help him out after deputies found him confused and unable to care for himself.
Monroe County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Becky Herrin said deputies responding to a call Monday found the man in a wheelchair, confused and unable to care for himself.
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She said Sgt. Jason Madnick was the first to arrive at the home on Rock Harbor Drive after someone called authorities, saying that the man was yelling to call police, because someone had stolen money from him.
Madnick found the man in his home with the front door and windows open.
Herrin said the man had trouble hearing and appeared confused when the sergeant asked him questions. She said the man kept talking about someone who was supposed to come to his house to take him to the bank.
Madnick called an ambulance so the man could be checked out.
Herrin said the home and man were both in terrible condition, and Madnick arranged to have food delivered from the nearby Tower of Pizza restaurant, after he discovered that there was no food in the refrigerator, and the man hadn't eaten in a while.
Herrin said Madnick also made many phone calls to the man's family and several social service agencies.
Someone from the Department of Children and Families eventually went to the home, and the man was taken to a hospital to be evaluated.
Madnick went to a First State Bank branch the next day, where the man has a bank account, to make sure that there had been no theft of his funds.
He also called the man's relatives again to make sure they knew about the account so his funds would be safe and secure.
The Sheriff's Office decided to gather a group to clean the man's home Thursday so that it will be in good condition upon his return home.
The group of volunteers included firefighters from Station 24 and recruits from the law enforcement academy.