EXAMPLES OF GPS TRACKING DEVICES FOR ALZHEIMER’S
Comfort Zone: Web-based location management system. Person with Alzheimer's carries a tracking device, or has the device mounted on a vehicle. Family members can track the person's location from the Internet or through a monitoring center. alz.org/comfortzone/.
SafeLink GPS: Uses GPS and cellular technologies to track location both outside and indoors. Works by creating a Geo-Fence radius and family members can keep up with location through computers, tablets or smartphones. safelinkgps.com.
GPS SmartSoles: These digital insoles can be slipped into any pair of shoes. Cellular technology allows family members to keep up with locations via text messages. They can also monitor through an online mapping portal or Smart Locator app. gpssmartsole.com.
Clevercare: Smartwatch out of New Zealand. The device works on a mobile network. Family caregivers can create customized safety zones and reminders, and locate their loved one in real time through an Internet connection. clevercare.co.nz.
Bluewater Security: GPS locator watch that allows family members to monitor the location of their loved one. If the wearer gets lost, a panic button can be pushed so loved ones know to come get the person. bluewatersecurityprofessionals.com.
The emerging field of wearable technology may hold some promise for those who have Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia.
GPS tracking devices aimed at wandering can be found in shoe insoles, and smartwatches can load location data directly to a caregiver’s phone. Fitness bands can detect sleep problems by monitoring light and deep sleep cycles. Sleep disturbances are known to lead to memory loss for those who have the disease, and irregular sleep cycles are often linked to nighttime wandering.
Wandering is a serious problem in Alzheimer's, said Leslie Gregory, president and CEO of the Georgia Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association. About 70 percent of Alzheimer's patients will wander, and of those not found in 24 hours, 50 percent will not make it, she said.
GPS trackers work by setting up safety zones and giving location alerts or reports to caregivers. They can even work in vehicles to track the whereabouts of those who still drive. Most are touted as a necessity that can bring a little peace of mind for family caregivers.
While wearable devices can help those in the early stages of dementia maintain some independence, experts caution against putting too much faith in them.
The tracking devices have to be either worn or taken, with the batteries charged. Some won’t work outside of cell service areas. And tracking systems in general have limited use as the disease progresses.
“If you have one of the motion devices, don’t take so much comfort in it that you let your guard down. Sometimes, more leeway is given than is really safe,” Gregory said.
“If you have to have a tracking system when they drive, maybe they shouldn’t be driving in the first place,” she added.
Even with a wearable tracker, people with dementia are urged to sign up for MedicAlert+Safe Return, a nationwide emergency response service that partners with the Alzheimer's Association. There's no tracking device, but if they ever get lost, their personal information is already available to law enforcement.
MedicAlert works with the state’s Mattie’s Call system for missing adults with dementia. Caregivers are encouraged to search in the immediate area for no more than 15 minutes then make the call to 911 for a Mattie’s Call alert. Wait any longer and a confused driver could be two or three states away.
Gregory said the emergency responder system is especially vital for those who are in the early stages of Alzheimer’s. This is a time when many are still driving and dementia symptoms are not noticeable to the public.
Laurie M. Orlov, a tech industry veteran who now keeps tabs on the latest technology trends as an elder care advocate, said that while new tracking devices are coming into the marketplace, the basic technology really hasn’t changed that much. She said more research needs to be done with dementia in mind.
Orlov is founder of national market research services Aging in Place Technology Watch and Boomer Health Tech Watch.
“Technology for Alzheimer’s is extremely primitive and limited,” she said. Some of it is just “data overload” with no real purpose, and other devices have more bells and whistles than needed, she said.
For example, while a smartwatch can be loaded with all types of location apps and alerts, it may not be as useful as a simple responder service, Orlov said. A person confused about where he or she is can push a button on a pendant and a call service will answer and help get them where they need to go.
“There’s a lot of talk in the inventions of smart fabrics, but I’m not sure if having the device in fabric or an insole is an advantage over just having one in the pocket of your clothes,” Orlov said.
Some wearables are proving to help with Alzheimer's, though they weren't made or marketed for that purpose. For example, fitness trackers, such as Fitbit, can collect data on sleep disturbances. Many times those with Alzheimer's will not remember waking up at night, especially if they never got out of bed, but knowing their sleep patterns can help solve some important medical issues, Gregory said.
About the Author
