Wandering Prevention Feedback?

tessaclifford · April 16

Hello everyone,
I'm a Industrial Design student currently trying to design a product that could help prevent dangerous wandering in people living with dementia. My grandmother has dementia, and right after moving houses she had a few bad wandering incidents at night that could have ended badly if she hadn't been found by some neighbors. I was hoping for a bit of feedback from caregiving communities for my initial concept.
- A wearable GPS device, perhaps a pendant or a bracelet inspired piece, that could ideally be customizable to reflect some of the patient's personality and interests, connected to a smartphone app that can alert caregivers when someone has left safety zones that can be deemed by the caregiver, either by a discreet message or by an alarm, depending on the time of day and the patients current independence and mobility. Trusted neighbors could be connected to this app with the ability to contact you in case of finding your loved one in a confused state when wandering.
Let me know any concerns, advice or feedback. Would be greatly appreciated.

Maru · April 16

Your description sounded very much like an invisible fence that some dog owners use. In theory it's a great idea. From what I have read, many dementia patients remove those devices. There are GPS devices out there, but most have a limited bluetooth range. I hope that you can figure out a workable device that would be more useful.

Michele P · April 16

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/75823/wandering-prevention-feedback

Hi. You need a device that can not be removed. Talk to your local police or sheriff’s department about Project Life Saver. They supply a watch that has to be cut off to remove. It is waterproof and has gps tracking capability in the entire U.S. Find out the technology they use for long range tracking. Once someone starts to wander, they will remove a device. The watch is not attractive but does the job with 100 percent accuracy. They need to be in secure memory care facilities or watched 24/7. Caregivers are the purchaser. Safety is their number one priority.

rcaine · April 17

I really appreciate your heart behind this. It’s an excellent idea, and it actually hits close to home for me. My grandmother lived in a rural area, and we had some very scary close calls when she wandered out into the fields.

It’s not always feasible for someone to be in a 24/7 care environment, which makes solutions like this even more important. I do agree with some of the other comments, though. Unfortunately, this is likely something they would try to remove, so it would need to be designed in a way that makes them want to keep it on. Maybe incorporating a fidget component or some type of locking feature could help.

The modern touch of an app is a great idea as well. One challenge we’ve seen with similar products, like Samsung SmartTags we’ve used for our dogs, is that once the device is outside the range of nearby phones or connected devices, it stops reliably updating location.

Michele P · April 17

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/75823/wandering-prevention-feedback

the watch that is available through Project Lifesaver uses a wand that the law enforcement officer uses that can scan the device and obtain information on who the person is wearing the watch from their central data base. This is important if someone is lost and cannot communicate and say his or her name or where they live.
People can walk for miles when wandering making long range tracking vital.

Wandering Prevention Feedback?

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