The Best GPS Trackers for Dementia Patients

Dementia is a disease that usually impacts seniors, causing distorted experiences that can erase their memory on a temporary or permanent basis. Because it’s common to forget places and faces that they’re familiar with, wandering off can be a common problem, with an estimated minimum of 60% of individuals with dementia wandering. This can lead to serious injuries or death, making this issue a serious concern for family members or caregivers of persons suffering from dementia.

However, dementia isn’t the only condition that may cause individuals to wander. In the same family as Alzheimer’s Disease is Parkinson’s Disease, which can also cause an individual to end up needing help or to get lost, as can other diseases and conditions that impact memory and brain function.

Though this can be deeply concerning for the individual’s loved ones, today’s GPS technology makes it possible to keep track of individuals with dementia and other memory issues. New GPS trackers have come onto the market that provide caregivers with tools to track an individual who may wander outside of a specified area, such as a home or yard. There are several different devices with various capabilities; some can determine the exact location of the individual who is wandering, while others provide a more generalized location.

What type of GPS tracker will work best for a patient or loved one with dementia? Here are three of the best to consider.

1. Lok8U

With a decade of reliable experience and service in the healthcare industry, Lok8U is one of the most reliable trackers on the market. It’s water resistant and fits like a wristwatch, making it comfortable to wear. It has a portable receiver that the patient can have with them at any time, and features a loud beep and visual alarm to make locating a patient with dementia more efficient. It also shows the real-time location of the wearer on Google Maps, including the zip code and street address. Caregivers can choose to adjust the range that a patient or loved one can wander before the alert is triggered. And the number of location requests and alerts is unlimited when using email and text.

2. General Tracking Options

There are numerous general tracking systems that allow caregivers and family members to track a patient with dementia. Small but powerful, tools like iTraq and PocketFinder can track items including keys, luggage, and pets, but they also track loved ones using cellular data to provide an accurate location. This technology lets you set “geofencing” – a predefined area that allows movement, such as a yard, home, or neighborhood, but beyond that limit, an alert is sent out.

This type of tracker can be easily accessed through the device’s app using a smartphone or computer. The system displays the exact location of the device, including how quickly the device is moving, the exact GPS coordinate, and a street address. A 60-day history can be logged to help you spot patterns, while real-time updates arrive by email or text.

3. GPS Medical Alert Systems (Bay Alarm Medical)

If you’re familiar with the “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up” medical alert devices, this type of medical alert system is very similar and can include mobile GPS tracking so that your loved one can not only have their location recorded, but can also call for help if needed.

Though most medical alert businesses provide a GPS system, only Bay Alarm Medical has a caregiver tracking option, with an online portal to manage the system. The portal lets caregivers set up a geofencing range so that they receive alerts should the patient or loved one leave that area. It also has a location history for the wearer.

The tracker can be worn as a necklace or belt clip, and it comes with a free charging pod for use after the 72-hour battery life is expended. You can also have automated fall detection technology added to immediately summon medical assistance if the patient doesn’t start moving within a short period of time. Whether your loved one is at home or going around town, they’re protected.

The 10,000 Foot View

As a significant problem for many elderly that is growing as time passes, dementia impacts about 5.7 million seniors in the United States. By 2050, it’s expected that the number will rise to 14 million, creating a difficult situation for loved ones and family members as improved healthcare lengthens life spans.

Taking a patient or loved one with dementia on travel or to run errands can be a stressful situation as safety is a constant concern. However, studies have found that patients with dementia who get regular exercise and fresh air are less easily agitated and distressed, while isolation causes the disease to advance more quickly.

For this reason, research has shown that out-of-home mobility is valuable to caregivers of elderly patients experiencing cognitive dissonance and decline, lifting some of the weight of their task. Getting burned out as a caregiver is extremely easy to do, especially for the sandwich generation of adults caught caring for aging parents as well as growing children.

There are various levels and stages of dementia, ranging from early stages or mild cognitive issues following a stroke, to late stage confusion. IN many cases, an individual may feel comfortable in familiar surroundings or routine situations, yet get lost or confused after a wrong turn or unexpected occurrence. In all cases, a GPS tracker can be valuable, providing both seniors and families peace of mind while supporting carefully monitored independence.

To find the right GPS option for your needs, be prepared to do some research. Among the factors you should take into account are the style, size, weight, battery life, distance, and coverage range.

In preference to the standard medical alert devices, GPS trackers don’t require the individual with dementia to push a button to sound an alert, a task that they may not be up to handling. With a tracker, the caregiver can track the individual unobtrusively in the background, and take action when appropriate, regardless of the loved one’s condition or ability to respond.

GPS trackers allow individuals with dementia to keep a sense of independence and normalcy. However, caregivers are still aware of their location and know that they’ll be alerted if the individual wanders off or may be harmed.