Vulnerable dementia sufferers are being tracked with satellite technology in a pioneering project in Warwickshire.
The technology will enable worried relatives to monitor movements on a map via a secure website.
Warwickshire County Council is one of the first local authorities in the country to use the tracking technology in this way.
The initiative comes amid fears that the degenerative condition which currently affects 570,000 in England, will double in the next 30 years.
One family in Warwickshire has already seen the benefits of the tracking device which is fitted in the patient’s belt. Pete, who only wishes to be identified by his first name, is the son of a dementia sufferer. He was becoming increasingly concerned by his 71 year-old father’s wandering which on one occasion led to police collecting him.
He said: “Five months ago we were in a position where we felt that we could no longer cope. Dad always loved to take the dog for long walks but he started getting lost in other parts of town. It’s a particular trait for people with dementia to keep moving – it’s as if they are walking away from the problem.”
Although Pete visits his father regularly, he found that juggling his job, which involves working away from home, and having two young children meant it was impossible to offer around-the-clock care.
Care staff then suggested the tracking technology and a programme was devised.
Pete added: “I felt really torn and thought the only way forward would be to give up my job or to consider a residential home for dad.”
Care workers assist his father with his morning routine, before ensuring that his mini-tracker device is fitted to his belt.
Pete added: “We talked to Dad about the GPS and he is happy to be wearing it because he feels that he is being looked after even if we are not there. It means he can go for walks or stay at home without being wrapped up in cotton wool. It has been like a breath of fresh air for dad and it has given us better peace of mind.”
Dr Graeme Betts, strategic director for Adult, Health and Community Services for Warwickshire County Council, said: “New technologies are giving people greater freedom and are promoting independence but only if they are part of a tailor-made care package.”
Warwickshire County Council established its Telecare Service in 2007 and uses a range of devices and technology to help older and disabled people.
n A new study has begun to understand the complex neural networks in the minds of dementia patients.
Scientists at the VU University Medical Centre in Amsterdam used a mathematical method known as graph theory to evaluate communications between different parts of the brain.
Those patients with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia were seen to demonstrate more random and unstructured deviation between local specialisation and global integration, highlighting the “disconnection syndrome” previously associated with the conditions.
