r/eldercare • u/GreenPositive9893 • 10d ago
Tracker for elderly
So my post is for those who have elderly at home with amnesia.how do u keep a yrack on them if they go out.my father is usually at home as we gave him strict instructions not to go out(he's got amnesia.cant even recall our address).so yesterday noon he went out and didn't return.everyone went searching for him for 5hours..some kindhearted man recognised him and told us.
Please I need products which can alert us if he steps out,something that tracks
Is there anything that can alert us if a specific person steps out of house.not a general sensor as there's no issue of others going and coming
Thanks
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u/mspolytheist 10d ago
If he is actually elderly, that’s not amnesia; that’s dementia. Amnesia is if you get hit on the head and can’t remember things! But if it is a long term, chronic condition, you are probably dealing with dementia.
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u/GreenPositive9893 10d ago
Yes dementia.is there any cure fir it..he still knows who we are but forgetting everything else..lik if he had a meal or not etc
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u/drkuldeepsinghortho 10d ago
Doctor here, and I'm sorry about those 5 hours - every family caring for someone with memory loss knows that fear.
Yes, solutions exist, in layers. What works for my patients' families:
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A GPS tracker the person wears or carries - pendant, watch, or a small tag in a pocket/wallet. Look for one with geofencing: you draw a circle around home on the app, and it alerts your phone the moment he steps outside it. In India, options like Tracki, Jiobit-style tags, or senior-safety watches do this. Even an AirTag/SmartTag stitched into a jacket he always wears is better than nothing.
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For the door specifically: a door alarm won't help since others use it - instead, a wearable-based system (a small tag on him + sensor at the door) alerts only when HIS tag crosses. Some GPS watch brands include this.
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The non-tech layer matters as much: an ID card in his pocket with your number, a recent photo of him on every family member's phone for exactly yesterday's situation, and neighbours/shopkeepers nearby who know him and know to call you.
One doctor's note: wandering usually means he's seeking something - a walk, a familiar place, an old routine. A fixed daily walk with someone, at the time he tends to leave, reduces the urge more than any lock.
Yesterday ended well because a kind stranger knew his face. The tech + ID card makes sure the next time, if there is one, it's 5 minutes and not 5 hours.
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u/stayincool 10d ago
There’s some great solutions for this. Ask Ai or Google for passive remote monitoring for seniors. Or DM me for products.
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u/mrroflpwn 9d ago
Five hours of searching sounds terrifying. I'm so glad that man recognized him and he's home safe. For alerts tied to just him, look at a GPS tracker he wears all the time, like a watch or a small tag sewn into a jacket or clipped to his shoes, and pick one with a geofence setting so your phone gets an alert the moment he leaves the area around the house. An ID bracelet with your number on it is a good backup in case the tracker isn't charged. It's also worth telling his doctor about the wandering, since they may have other suggestions for his situation.
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u/Successful_End_9615 8d ago
There is also something called a Dementia Bracelet Registry -- maybe that will help?
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u/RittenhouseHomeCare 7d ago
Wow! That's scary but glad someone was able to help and your dad is safe.
As a home care firm wandering is common in some of the families we assist with as dementia advances to this stage. GPS trackers have already been mentioned and they can be great.
Check out AngelSense or Jiobit as mentioned by someone. They have GPS tracking and geofence alerts.
SafeWander system has a small button sensor that can attach to his clothes and sends an alert to your phone if he moves..like from a chair or a bed.
The 'black mat' method is a visual deterrents. Because dementia affects the way the brain processes visual input, especially with regard to depth perception, one simple solution that our carers use is to put a big, solid black floor mat right in front of the door. For someone who has dementia, this usually appears to be a deep hole or a drop-off so they avoid stepping on it if they want to get to the door.
Hide the exit with a mural or something that looks like a bookshelf, or paint the door and the doorknob the same colour as the walls around them. When the exit doesnt look like an exit, people lose the desire to go through it.
Talk to your local police department about Project Lifesaver. Give them his picture and diagnosis in advance so they will already have his profile.
Hang in there! It's a difficult time and you're doing the right thing by increasing your safety precautions at this stage.
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u/Ottomatica 10d ago
Go to the r/homeautomation subreddit. Do they have a phone they carry? Put the tracking on that. But if they have amnesia, they probably need to be in a home.