5 Alarms and Tracking Devices for Alzheimer’s Patients

Alzheimer’s is a form of dementia that affects the brain, causing memory loss and other cognitive impacts. This disorder is common with aged people due to a reduced immune system and body strength. Everything slowly becomes unfamiliar to those with Alzheimer’s, making it harder to adapt to new environments. It’s challenging to manage people suffering from this disorder since they can wander and go missing. However, there are now devices to track Alzheimer’s patients without interfering with their lifestyle. Caregivers can use devices to monitor a patient’s location, ensuring they do not stray from safe areas.

Below is a list of lifesaving GPS devices designed to help elderly who may have Alzheimer’s.

1. AngelSense

AngelSense is a device that provides comprehensive information about various activities performed by a patient. A caregiver attaches this device to the patient’s clothes, and the caregiver is the only person who can unlock it. The device shows a patient’s direction and the distance they already traveled. The device also provides the caregiver with a timeline of locations visited daily, including the transit speed at a particular point in time. Also, it instantly alerts the caregivers in case a patient gets lost or goes a dangerous area. The caregivers can view the activities happening around a patient. AngelSense enables easier and efficient communication between caregivers and a patient.

2. iTraq

ITraq is a gadget that can track a person or another device set to operate within its system. The device can pair with a Smartphone App to search the location of a corresponding device in case a fall is detected. A fall sensor is also included, which sends automatic alerts in the event of a fall. Additionally, the device has an installed sensor to detect changes in temperature. ITraq modifiers also introduced another new device named iTraq Nano, which is one of the smallest tracking devices available. ITraq Nano has two months of battery life, and is both dust and water resistant. It also comes with a wireless charger, and it is Bluetooth enabled. Additionally, iTraq Nano has an enabled SOS button to notify the caregivers about the location of their loved ones if urgent help is requested.

3. Mindme

The Mindme gadget works in the form of a location device and/or an alarm. In case of emergency, the alarm sends alerting signals to the Mindme response center, and the location provide provides location reporting. These devices were designed for people living with forms of dementia or cognitive disabilities. It works by inserting key-sized devices into a patient’s pocket or bag, allowing the caregiver to monitor the exact direction or location of the patient, and provide configurable alerts on their location. In case the patient goes beyond the set radius, the gadget sends alerts to the caregiver, notifying them of the patient’s exact location and distance.

4. MedicAlert Safely Home

This device was invented to help medical professionals when providing emergency treatment to nonverbal patients, and eventually became the preferred gadget for dementia patients in various settings. The patient can walk with it anywhere, as it comes in a bracelet form that also holds important medical information about the patient. In case the patient gets lost, caregivers can receive alerts and inform the police, who can then obtain location data from the 24-hour hotline to find the missing patient.

5. Project Life Savers

Agencies act with Project Life Savers to provide urgent responses in case of an accident involving those with Alzheimer’s or other cognitive disabilities. The patients receive a personal transmitter which is worn around the ankle. Should they wander and get lost, the caregivers alert the agency where a well-trained team of lifesavers responds promptly. In most cases, the victims only travel a few miles from their home before they’re found. The project also works alongside the public safety agency to create awareness on risks surrounding wandering patients.

Dementia is challenging for both patient and caregiver as they adjust to new and unfamiliar circumstances. However, with the help of these lifesaving gadgets, it can be easier to monitor a wandering patient, thus preventing them from entering danger should they go missing. The devices also provide some freedom and independence to the patients in a convenient manner, while giving caregivers peace of mind.