Trying to Track My Mother

Normas Daughter

My mother is still independent.  I don't know how much longer.  I have been able to do some tracking via the Find Anywhere app.  It would be helpful to also be able to look historically of where she's going.  I've investigated some and it's a bit overwhelming.  I was hoping for something truly more bracelet like for her but Angel Sense seems to have lots of benefits. If anyone can share their experience with tracking?  Thank you in advance.

Unknown By Man

I made my own using a raspberry pi—using the internet and some programming knowledge, for the most part is rather successful. I also looked into third party methods but to be honest they were overpriced when you can do the same thing with a prepaid sms, raspberry pi, and a gps module. 

That said if these are not viable options personally being able to track my mom is a life saver and also gives me some peace of mind when I let her out since even if she gets lost I can find her. I would definitely consider it an option. I have also seen people just use an watch with gps as a means to avoid the monthly subscription. Sure they may not be as accurate but they are accurate enough to find a person.

Hardest part was making sure she would take it but since I made my own I was able to place them in her coats, bags etc . . . Then host them on my own website to keep track of each in real time. Angel sense does provide many other benefits though.

LovingAwareness

We were just talking about this today. Wondering if microchipping (like we do for pets) is still a thing or if that never really caught on.

Would a new watch be a possibility for your Mom? They also have shoe inserts and a thin wafer you can place in her wallet, if she carries one. We're thinking of trying to replace our Dad's watch, but he is very attached to his watch and not sure he would accept a digital watch.

The Best GPS Tracking Watches for Alzheimer's Patient (wondershare.com)

Marta

Is a person who requires tracking truly still independent?

Getting lost is not the only disaster that can befall a person with significant cognitive impairment. 

Unknown By Man

Think it depends, for the most part in my mother's case she knew how to get home 8 times out of 10. So while she did get lost it seems weird to take away that freedom and keep her confind due to outside fears. 

All the confinement will do is all to the stress levels all around. So the tracking device allows for a happy middle ground that provides a sense of freedom and independence to both parties. 

Normas Daughter

Thanks for suggestion.  Although I'm technical I'm not that technical. We'll have to find a product.

Normas Daughter

Thanks I had found another list so this gave me some other items to consider.

JDancer

How are the people you're tracking getting around? Not driving, I hope. If a person can't find their way home, are they really safe to be out alone? Will they dress properly? Avoid dangerous situations? The possibilities are endless. I think a tracker is perfect for an emergency elopement, but if someone needs it to go out, they probably should not be out alone, IMO.

Emily 123

Hi,

It depends on where your mom is in terms of the disease. At some point the disease  progresses so that they cannot recognize anything new. Not just some new tech item, but even personal things.  They'll look for what's familiar, and go right past a new item, or put away an item they're wearing because it's not familiar.  (In my mom's case, it's new jackets and shoes.) This also applies to wearable tracking devices. Another issue is that if they're compromised enough to get lost and/or struggle with something new, they aren't going to remember to use any alert buttons on a tracking device. Thirdly, they may become irritated at the presumption that they're getting lost--Hi Mom--and their craftiness will allow them to find the cleverly hidden tracker, which they will leave by the front door as they go out. 

I used Primetracking that I bought from Amazon.  The service was $25/month, the tracker's a 3 x 2'' box, and fit in my mom's jacket.  You can talk the service down to $10/month if you try to unsubscribe.  It did give me peace of mind, as about 10% of the time on her daily walks my mom would get turned around by the cul-de-sac the next street over.  (She was able to retain my address the entire time,  and could still use a map, which seemed so odd to me.)  I could watch her on her walk while I worked from home.  However, thre was the whole 'removing the tracker' thing she'd do. She was going to move to her AL once the vax came out, so it was an ok solution for a few months.