Alzheimer's Patients: To Track or Not to Track?

“It was a hot summer’s night. Shortly after midnight, the daughter of MM heard the door slam. MM lived in a rural tidewater county with steep drainages and bluffs near a large tidal river. The 81 year-old mother suffers from moderate Alzheimer’s disease. The following morning the daughter notices that her mother is missing. The sheriff’s office is contacted and they initiate the search with the fire department, tracking dogs, helicopters, and air-scent dogs. The following day state search resources are contacted. The steep drainages, thick brush, and intense heat hampers the search. On the third day of the search, an air-scent dog strongly alerted in the drainage a half-mile and across the road from the MM’s home. A sweep team of active duty military was then dispatched to search the drainage. MM was located alive in thick brush 0.7 miles away from her home. She was dehydrated, but otherwise in good condition.1”

When your loved one has Alzheimer’s disease, situations like this can happen, even when being careful. “…60 percent feel the urge to walk off from their homes, and of these 40 percent actually get lost, causing distress to themselves and their families.” My grandmother has Alzheimer’s and like MM, she has had the same urges to run. Thankfully, she never got lost or ran off too far for us to catch her. Because of the fear of losing a loved one, there have been a few technologies developed to aid tracking. This blog shines some light on some of these devices.

“A mini-industry of technologies promises to find lost Alzheimer’s patients — from simple radio-wave beacons that cost $10 a month for batteries, to more-sophisticated GPS devices that can cost hundreds of dollars.”

The tracking beacons can be designed as hard-to-remove bracelets secured on patients’ wrists. Some sheriff’s departments, like the Melnick’s, have a program called Project Lifesaver, which uses radio beacons to locate a lost loved one. The problem with these devices is the gap of time that occurs between the moment the patient is missing and the moment you finally realize your loved one is gone.

The GPS devices can be hidden in shoes, cell phones, etc. They can be more accurate, but, according to MSNBC’s article (another link to the article), that depends on access to satellites powering the navigation tool. Another concern with GPS devices and tracking beacons is they may forget to wear it or set it down when they decide to wander. If this happens, both devices would be useless.

“Radiofrequency “tags” is a hot topic for assisted-living facilities. Patients wear a sensor read by receivers on doors that sound an alarm when someone strolls too far.” There is some worry that lazy caregivers may abuse devices, like this one. These devices are not supposed to be a replacement for a good caregiver or a way to make their life easier, but a way to keep the patients safer.

These and other similar are the most popular tracking devices for Alzheimer’s patients; each with different downsides. As with any consumer product, care should be taken when purchasing. Different tracking devices may be more effective with different situations or families.

My mother, Marcia Witte, cares for my grandmother who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease over 4 years ago. She has this to say about tracking devices:

“I think tracking would be helpful to people in the early stages of Alzheimer’s, but after that, their mental capacity varies enough from day to day that I don’t think it would be safe for the patient or other people they come into contact with. For example, what if they walked out in front of a car? I think they need familiar surroundings and to be watched fairly closely, and I don’t think a devise for tracking them provides enough care.

With my mother, one day she will seem fine, happy, and even overly appreciative; then the next day she’s angry, saying we don’t care about her and that we’re taking all her money. With variations so drastically different, it would not be safe for her outside of my watchful eye, with or without a tracking device.”

For those who have a loved ones suffering from Alzheimer’s and do not believe in the use of these tracking devices; there are other options to help keep them from wandering away. These tips are detailed at HealingWell.com.

• Install locks on the doors
• Install locks on the windows
• Consider alarms
• Erect fences and gates
• A Safe Return bracelet, necklace or emergency ID card
• Write their name and phone number on label on all clothing
• Dress in brightly colored clothing
• Keep all keys up and out of sight and reach
• Never leave a loved one alone in the car
• Avoid leaving a loved one home alone
• Don't be afraid to be creative

If you have stories or strong opinions about these tracking devices, comment and let us know what you think.

By Emily the intern at
The Business Shrink: Understanding the Psychology of Business and Money

1 "Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders SAR Research." AlzheimersSupport.com. <http://www.snipitron.com/BusinessShrinkIntern/Alzheimers_tracking_tags/Wandering_and_Alzheimers_Characteristics>.