Technology can help people with dementia avoid wandering and warn their caretakers when they do. According to studies, this technology, which typically includes wearable devices with GPS and other non-invasive sensors, lessens the emotional strain on individuals caring for a family member with dementia.
This is significant, given that around 6.9 million Americans aged 65 and up have Alzheimer’s disease, and the prevalence of Alzheimer’s and other kinds of dementia is rising. Furthermore, family caregivers of dementia patients report higher levels of stress and poorer physical and mental health than others.
A pilot study done by academics from the Texas A&M University School of Public Health has provided new insight into customer satisfaction with one such brand, Theora Care.
The Theora Care system includes a wearable gadget for the person with dementia, which is linked to a smartphone application that informs the caregiver if the person wanders. The mechanism also facilitates communication between the two.
Matthew Lee Smith, Ph.D., a professor of health behavior who helped conduct the study said
This focus on increasing the situational awareness for both the caregiver and the person with dementia is a new innovation in this type of technology,”
Those getting treatment wore a GPS-enabled device (similar to a smartwatch) with an S.O.S. emergency calling feature. Their caregivers downloaded a smartphone app that tracked their care recipient’s position, set physical boundaries that prompted smartphone notifications when crossed, and allowed for quick communication with wandering care recipients.
After three months of using the system, the caregivers participated in a telephone interview in which they provided information about how frequently they used the system, as well as its tracking, “safe zone,” and two-way calling capabilities. They also provided input on the system’s simplicity of use, usefulness in caregiving, and overall pleasure.
