1. Dementia patients can become disoriented in familiar environments, leading them to wander off or get lost. personal alert safety system Though wandering is part of Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia, it can be extremely dangerous; those who become lost could end up experiencing unpleasant or even life-threatening circumstances, including exposure, hypothermia and traffic accidents. About six out of ten dementia sufferers will wander at least once during their lifetimes.
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3. GPS trackers can offer great peace of mind to both those living with dementia and their caregivers. These discreet devices look like regular watches or pendants so as not to interfere with daily activities; additionally they feature alert presets, battery status warning, and fall detection to keep loved ones safe.
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5. GPS tracking may prove beneficial in the early stages of Alzheimer's, however as Alzheimer's progresses it may no longer be appropriate to use. People experiencing later stage dementia will experience cognitive decline that makes remembering or performing daily tasks harder, along with symptoms like repetition, difficulty communicating and disorientation.
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7. This type of dementia tracking device is ideal for those living at home with close family and friends to assist. To reduce the risk of your elderly loved one wandering, talk with them and form a care plan together - making them feel part of the decision-making process so their safety becomes top priority.
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10. Researchers conducted an investigation published in the National Library of Medicine (NLM), exploring how using GPS trackers affected quality of life for those with dementia and their caregivers. 14 couples participating agreed to use trackers in their homes for six months; users could monitor real time locations through password-protected website and mobile app.
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12. Focus group discussions were conducted by the research team with participants from both family caregivers and professional carers who had first-hand knowledge of managing wandering behaviors associated with dementia. These focus group discussions lasted around an hour each and took place over multiple sessions.
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14. Findings revealed that most dyads found GPS trackers acceptable and feasible for managing people living with dementia, reporting benefits such as being able to quickly locate them safely, increasing social connectedness/assurance for the wearer, greater independence for them, reduced need to contact police or 24-hour care services, as well as an overall improvement of quality of life. Some carers reported feeling monitored by the tracking device - they recommended further studies be conducted into its effectiveness at reducing wandering among dementia care patients as well as finding cost-effective strategies for implementation.
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16. Homepage: https://familyr.co.nz/independent-living/