John West, 74, left the Hawthorn Village in Cobden Street about 9.30.

He was last seen in the main street of Bright at 10am. Police and the SES searched for Mr West.

Helen, his wife of 45 years, said he suffered dementia and had recently had an operation to treat bladder cancer.

She said Mr West, who had been on respite at the centre since his operation, had taken a walk and not returned.

“We’re very worried about him,” Mrs West said.

“We just want people to be on the lookout for him.

“He’s a very routine-based man with the dementia and he will be very confused and unable to speak properly to those he might meet.

“He usually goes into town, takes a walk, sits on a park bench and comes back for lunch.

“He hasn’t come back this time.”

There are concerns that the area near the aged care home is close to Morses Creek and the Ovens River.

Police spent much of yesterday door-knocking residents near the centre and started working their way further out from the area with the SES as the search progressed.

The couple’s daughter, Sharan Rivett, was helping with the search last night, and Mrs West said a helicopter could join the search today.

Mr West, who is about 180 centimetres tall, has a medium, stooped build. He is balding and is clean shaven.

He walks with a shuffle and is believed to have been wearing a white, check shirt, cream pants, and possibly a green cap when he went missing.

Anyone who sees Mr West or has information can call triple-0.