If you have a loved one who wanders as a result of Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, there are ways to help track them. About 60 percent of Alzheimer’s sufferers will wander and become lost. Thankfully, new technology and programs are available to help you find your loved one if they have wandered off. Below are a few options you can evaluate using for your loved one:
In some cities you will find programs in effect that offer families and caregivers ways to track their loved one. In such programs, clients wear a wristband that emits a tracking signal. If they begin wandering and get lost, the caregiver is able to call 911 to activate the search, and the signal helps the search team locate the person. Check with your local Police Department to see a similar service is available to you.
The Alzheimer’s Association offers a nationwide program that provides an identification bracelet or necklace to a person who tends to wander. There is a toll-free number on this ID bracelet that police can call to report someone they have found. There is an enrollment fee for this program.
There are now shoes with a built in GPS device that have hit the market this month. GTX Corp has developed these shoes that cost about $300 a pair with an additional $30-$40 monthly monitoring service plan. While seniors tend to reject the tracking bracelets or pendants due to the paranoia that comes with the disease, they are more apt to wear the normal walking shoes. These shoes allow caregivers to monitor the wearer and set up a “geofence” that would trigger an alert if the person goes beyond a certain area. If you are interested in purchasing the Aetrex GPS Shoes you can find more information at www.aetrex.com/gps.
