GPS Trackers For People With Dementia
Trackers are electronic devices designed to transmit the location of a person, helping locate them if they become lost. Trackers have become an invaluable tool for people living with dementia and their care partners to use when trying to stay safe, such as to stop wandering away or becoming lost. While no tracker can guarantee complete protection from accidental misuse or intentional misconduct, people living with dementia must use trackers alongside other strategies aimed at increasing safety such as GPS trackers, smart locks or community services to stay safe. st johns medical alarm Family1st offers an extensive range of GPS tracking devices to assist loved ones in remaining safe. Customizable with alert presets, these devices allow for tailor-made notifications suited specifically for each individual – for instance if someone with dementia becomes anxious when leaving their home alone, creating a geofence may provide peace of mind by alerting you if they leave without authorization. GPS devices were utilized by people living with dementia and their informal caregiver in an approved study by both the Health Research Authority and host University research ethics committees. Both parties provided written informed consent for use of these devices; where people with dementia lacked capacity, arrangements were made by study team liaison with nearest legal relatives to communicate their wishes to us. Researchers discovered that people living with dementia and their caregivers reported many positive effects from using GPS trackers, particularly confidence, peace of mind and feeling more connected when assistance was required. Being able to locate someone quickly without involving police was also seen as beneficial. Most companies emphasized the ease of their device for both persons living with dementia and their caregivers, an aspect seen as critical due to complex technology that may add stress or cause frustration; furthermore, difficult integration can increase abandonment rates of devices that are difficult to use daily; several factors were touted by companies as contributing to its user-friendliness, including large buttons, simple software design, and long battery life. Carers also appreciated the GPS features that enabled them to stay in contact with their loved ones, such as 'history function' which stores an overview of movement that can be accessed when their loved one isn't wearing the device; fall detection and live updates provide peace of mind that their loved one won't wander off, giving families and caregivers time for themselves without worrying that someone close is at risk of wandering off alone.