If a senior you care for has Alzheimer’s disease, wandering safety technology, like a GPS tracking device, can help keep them becoming lost.
If you are the caregiver for an older adult who has Alzheimer’s, you know firsthand how difficult the disease can be to manage. Keeping an adult with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia safe, can result in long, stressful days for family members. It’s a situation an estimated 16.1 million people find themselves in.
One of the most difficult challenges of caring for a person with Alzheimer’s is managing wandering. This is an important issue to learn more about because 6 in 10 people with the disease will wander. If an adult wanders once, it increases the risk they will do so again.
Fortunately, there are technology solutions that can help. Most of these rely on various forms of GPS tracking.
Wandering Safety Technology for People with Alzheimer’s Disease
The statistics on wandering demonstrate how vital the first 24 hours are for the safe return of a person with Alzheimer’s disease. If a senior is missing longer than 24 hours, the odds of a safe return begin to decline significantly.
A GPS tracking device gives caregivers peace of mind. Should their senior loved one wander, they can be located more quickly. A few devices to investigate include:
- AngelSense: This GPS cell phone system allows caregivers to receive updates on their loved one’s location every ten seconds. It can also alert caregivers if the senior wanders in to an unfamiliar area. AngelSense has two-way voice technology to allow the older adult and their family member to talk back and forth.
- GPS SmartSole: A wearable but discrete technology, this GPS tracking option is an insert that is placed in the senior’s shoe. It logs and tracks the older adult’s location using cellular technology. This allows the caregiver to quickly locate their loved one in the event of an emergency.
- PocketFinder: Another discrete device, this one is small enough to be placed in the senior’s pocket. It is a personal GPS that allows you to track an older adult’s location in real time. That’s important when a senior has dementia and might not be able to speak for themselves to ask for help.
Memory Care for Adults with Alzheimer’s Disease
Sometimes the needs of a senior with Alzheimer’s disease are too much for families to safely manage at home. When that happens, a memory care community can be an ideal solution. These secure programs are designed to keep residents with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia safe, including from wandering away.
They are also designed to allow residents to live their best quality of life despite their disease. From dedicated dining programs that promote good nutrition to life enrichment programs that keep residents engaged, memory care communities empower residents while giving loved ones peace of mind.
At Legacy Senior Living, we call our memory care services The Harbor. With a homelike setting and attentive staff, residents are expertly cared for each day. If you are searching for a memory care community to support a senior in your life, we encourage you to call the Legacy Senior Living community nearest you today to schedule a private tour.