Monday marks the six-week anniversary since the 88-year-old walked out of Ballan Health on a cold Monday morning.

And questions still remain as to how an elderly man with serious health issues was simply able to leave the centre he had been a patient in since June.

Daughter Wendy Smith said family had been focusing their search around the area near Morrison’s Cemetery after receiving word that he may have been taken there.

Albert’s wife is buried in the cemetery.

“We haven’t had any other sightings but we believe someone has taken him there,” Ms Smith said.

“We are desperately searching for that person to come forward, even if it’s anonymously to provide us some information.

“We’ve been down there every day, searching the area and all the bush around.”

Mr Smith, from Mount Doran, was well known in his local community, but much of his family lives throughout the state.

Ms Smith said her father was admitted to Ballan Health with severe back pain and also suffered from chronic ulcers. He was part of the transitional care program, having almost been unable to walk when he was first admitted.

An infection meant his stay had been longer than expected and his family admit, he was struggling in the confined space.

She said the family had asked for an investigation into how he was able to walk out of the centre, but the first priority was finding him.

Ms Smith is realistic about her father’s fate, but believes somebody knows what happened.

“My gut tells me someone knows something that they aren’t telling us,” she said. 

“We know he was taken to Gordon and the person who gave him a lift has been in contact with police, but we also believe from there he was taken to Morrisons and that person has never come forward,” she said.

“If someone is harbouring him, he will have needed his medication by now, but so far his bank account hasn’t been touched and his Medicare card not used.”

She said there was a genuine fear the family would never know what happened to their dad.

READ MORE: Family put out plea for missing dad

“It’s awful to think we may never know what happened,” she said. “Of course we’re all thinking the worst. It’s six weeks on Monday and we’re no closer to finding out the truth.

“The only peace I get now is when I’m up at the cemetery looking for him.”

Anyone who may have seen Albert Smith on October 8 is urged to contact Ballan Police on 5368 1303.

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