Electronic Tracking for People with Dementia Who Get Lost outside the Home: A Study of the Experience of Familial Carers

Abstract

Purpose: The study aimed to elicit a description of GPS (global positioning system) tracking use in the care of people with dementia in domestic settings and to generate hypotheses about impact.Procedures: Users were recruited through a commercial provider. Qualitative interviews with 10 carers were completed to generate an in-depth description of how the devices were used and the perceived impact. A questionnaire was administered to ascertain sample characteristics.Findings: Most carers preferred to use tracking as a back-up to other strategies of management, particularly supervision by a carer and locked doors. In cases where the carers perceived the risk of harm from getting lost to be low, tracking was used to preserve the independence of the person with dementia. The carers reported that tracking gave them reassurance and also enhanced the sense of independence both for themselves and for the person with dementia. The poor reliability of the device was identified as a substantial limitation.Conclusion: Larger studies are needed to assess the safety and clinical value of GPS tracking. These should explore the views of people with dementia. Assessment tools are needed to assess suitability. Occupational therapy can play a pivotal role in this process of intervention design, assessment and evaluation.Reference: Bantry White E, Montgomery P, McShane R (2010) Electronic tracking for people with dementia who get lost outside the home: a study of the experience of familial carers.

A pilot study on the use of tracking technology: Feasibility, acceptability, and benefits for people in early stages of dementia and their informal caregivers

“…Specifically, knowing that a care receiver with dementia may get lost is an independent stressor, an extra burden for the caregiver, leading to the onset of symptoms such as depression and/or anxiety (Hope et al, 2001;Miyamoto, Ito, Otsuka, & Kurita, 2002;White, Montgomery, & McShane, 2010).…”

Implications of Smart Wear Technology for Family Caregiving Relationships: Focus Group Perceptions

“…Ethical dilemmas regarding the privacy rights of adults (Landau & Werner, 2012) were similarly noted by participants. However, like other caregivers (White, Montgomery, & McShane, 2010), it appeared that the potential safety advantages of electronic monitoring was viewed as more important than privacy concerns. In the case of children's autonomy, participants generally believed that Smart Wear could function to help parents back off of their excessive, direct face-to-face monitoring of vulnerable children's locations and vital signs.…”

Should patients with dementia who wander be electronically tagged? Yes

“…8 The practical and ethical merits of GPS are best illustrated by real examples. 7 Take the woman who loves walking in an area where mobile reception is unreliable. Her husband is prepared to take the risk that the GPS tracker might fail rather than lock her in.…”

“…Her husband is prepared to take the risk that the GPS tracker might fail rather than lock her in. 7 Another example is a man who lives alone supported by visits from professional carers, who make sure he is wearing a tracker each morning. He does not accept that there is a problem, and needs a little cajoling to carry the device, but rapidly forgets that he is carrying it.…”