GPS Trackers for Elderly Loved Ones: Best Bracelets and Devices

Older adults who have dementia sometimes feel lost or disoriented, feelings that may cause them to leave their room or home in search of something familiar. This is called wandering, a common but potentially dangerous symptom of Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia in seniors. Many methods exist to help prevent wandering, but when it happens, a GPS tracker for seniors can help you find your loved one and prevent emergencies and dangerous situations.

How GPS tracking keeps people with dementia safe

GPS tracking has helped people navigate the planet for decades. As with apps for driving directions you use on your smartphone, GPS technology in senior-tracking devices coordinates with satellites to figure out your loved one’s precise location on the ground.

Today, GPS trackers come in many forms and can be so small that people wear them throughout the day without noticing. These trackers allow caregivers to know exactly where an elderly loved one is and can help keep them safe.

What to do when your loved one wanders

The Alzheimer’s Association encourages caregivers to start with a plan to help keep seniors safe. If your aging loved one begins to exhibit wandering behaviors, you should:

• Keep a list of people to call on for help and have telephone numbers easily accessible.
• Ask family, friends, and neighbors to call if they see your loved one alone.
• Keep a recent photo and updated medical information on hand for authorities.
• Keep the home and surrounding areas as safe and secure as possible, and stay aware of dangerous areas like stairwells and bodies of water.
• Try to anticipate places to which your loved one might wander, like a former workplace or house.
• Call 911 if you can’t find your loved one within 15 minutes.
• Buy a Osmile GPS Tracker

Help prevent wandering among people with dementia

Anyone suffering from memory problems is at risk for wandering, even those in the early stages of dementia, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. Six in 10 people with dementia will wander, and as the disease progresses, a person can become disoriented for longer periods of time.

Fortunately, you can avoid the dangers of wandering by creating a safety plan and using services like tracking technology. If you know your loved one is at risk, think of scenarios that could create confusion, and figure out ways to stay aware of their whereabouts — a device from Osmile may be a solution.

Memory care is another option for dealing with wandering among people with Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia. Memory care units generally have 24-hour supervised care within a standalone wing or on another floor of an assisted living facility. The physical layouts of dementia care units are designed to be easy to navigate, which minimizes the likelihood of wandering.