Locating dementia patients - No one gets lost

In Germany, about 1.2 million people are currently living with dementia. This disease with multiple causes is characterised, among other things, by a slow but steady loss of mental performance. Over the years, those affected lose larger and larger parts of their long-term memory and acquired skills and increasingly lose touch with the present. However, people with dementia often have a sudden urge to move, to get out and go to places that may no longer exist in this form today. To their old workplace or to the flat they once lived in. The discrepancy between the reality of the present and the image they have in their heads confuses them. They lose their orientation and can no longer find their way back on their own. Sometimes they don't even know where this "back" actually is. The idea of a loved one wandering helplessly through the streets is almost unbearable, but with the help of a special form of emergency locator, no one gets lost. A dementia location system sends a passive emergency signal with position data as soon as a defined safety zone is left. You don't need to search, but can pick up the disoriented person directly.

Dementia location systems were developed as a tool for dementia patients and their relatives. Especially for seniors who are still physically fit but mentally declining, it is often difficult to find the happy medium between permanent care and the concession of free space. In this context, the concern of relatives is a constant companion, because people with dementia are sometimes unpredictable in their actions. A locating system therefore creates enormous relief and actively helps to reduce dangerous situations.

And it works like this:

1. The senior in question has a GPS-based transmitter that is worn close to the body. Usually it is a bracelet or necklace. Less frequently, a hand-held device is used, which can be placed in the jacket pocket. The advantage of a bracelet or necklace is obvious: the GPS transmitter is always with you and is not left at home.
2. The transmitter is set in such a way that a message goes out immediately if the person leaves his house or a defined security area. This signal is reported via the mobile phone network either to a special emergency call centre or to a previously defined telephone number of one or more relatives. Not only is the information passed on that the person has left their house, but also where they are. This way you can immediately see on a map where the patient is. For this function, the GPS transmitter needs a SIM card.
3. Finally, the dementia patient only has to be picked up. Thanks to regular transmission of the exact position data, this is a quick matter. Be careful when picking up the person and do not reproach the disoriented person. Your relative is confused and needs protection and support.

Classically, your own four walls are considered a safe area and the GPS transmitter sends an alarm if they are left. However, you can also define this safe area yourself in order to give the person being cared for more freedom. For example, going to the supermarket or park around the corner may be perfectly fine. However, if this defined area is left, then the automatic alarm is triggered. Such definitions can be reset again and again, so that flexible responses can be made to the course of the disease or current situations.

GPS is the abbreviation for Global Positioning Systemand thus describes a global navigation satellite system for determining positions on earth. The system consists of 24 satellites that form a closed network around the globe. For an accurate position calculation, there must be contact with at least 3 of these satellites, whereby the position is calculated to an accuracy of 10 metres from the respective distance. GPS was originally developed for military purposes, but has been open for civilian use since 2000 and is now standard for private navigation systems.

The GPS transmitter worn by the person with dementia is in constant contact with the satellites, which can thus calculate exactly where the person is. Only when he or she leaves the defined safety zone is a passive alarm signal triggered and the position data passed on to third parties via the mobile phone network.

The use of the GPS system is free of charge, but not the forwarding of the data via the mobile phone network. For this, the dementia tracking system requires a SIM card, for which small monthly costs are incurred that have to be paid by the user. On average, they are between 5 and 15 euros per month. The cheapest option is to use a prepaid card. However, care must be taken here to ensure that there is always enough credit loaded on the card. With simple contracts, which are available for less than 10 euros per month, you don't have to worry about anything. In contrast to a home emergency call system, there is no subsidy from the long-term care insurance fund for a tracking system for dementia patients, even if the device is used in the context of inpatient care.

When setting up a locating system for dementia patients, it can be determined whether an alarm message is sent to a special emergency call centre or to private telephone numbers in the event of an emergency. The emergency call centre has the advantage that it is staffed around the clock and can coordinate quick help at any time. The route via relatives is somewhat less complicated and sometimes leads to faster help on the spot, but is not necessarily possible at all times of the day. Individual solutions can also be arranged with the provider so that the best possible security can be offered at all times.

In addition to the simple use of a GPS transmitter for dementia patients, there are also complex mobile emergency call detectors with integrated GPS location. In contrast to dementia location, however, these systems only work through an active emergency call. This means that the person concerned must press an emergency call button themselves to request the help they need. It is organised via a special emergency call centre, which can then also access the GPS data to coordinate the help precisely. Since dementia patients are not always able to do this actively or they themselves do not see the need for it, a passive alarm triggering is usually advantageous for these people. In case of doubt, you must consider together with your relative which system is better suited for you.

A dementia tracking system is the perfect companion for mobile and physically fit people who experience episodes of disorientation and are at risk of wandering outside alone. The device emits a passive signal as soon as a defined safety zone is left and automatically forwards the position data so that the disoriented person can be found again quickly. The costs for such a system are manageable at 5 to 15 euros per month and do not represent a major financial hurdle. Dementia tracking relieves relatives both emotionally and physically and significantly reduces the risk of confused people getting into distress. With a dementia location system, no one gets lost.