Technology
RF - GPS - GSM (cellular network) devices are the latest in prevention in wandering. Using a combination of all 3 enables long battery life, accurate tracking indoor and outdoors. When a person gets past the front door the Freedom Watch by LOK8U http://www.lok8u.com/freedom/ allows an alert to be transmitted with the longest delay of 30 seconds. The alarm on the base is immediate with an audible alarm. The watch wakes up on the cellular network and sends an alert by email and text message to the responsible party alerting that an individual has left the safe area. A location with a google map link show where the alert occurred. When Live tracking is enabled with updates as fast as every 2 minutes. It lays down a Bread Crumb trail with direction of travel. A secure web portal allow users to sign in with a secure user name and password to locate the person fast.In other efforts to help keep residents safe, mitigate liability, and protect reputations, Long Term Care and Assisted Living Facilities may use radio frequency (RFID) products to protect their residents. A resident wears a wrist, pendant, or ankle transmitter. This RFID tag can be read by receiving antenna units, which are placed usually at door or hallway locations that are deemed likely routes of egress and need monitoring. The system will then either sound an alarm or briefly lock a door when a door monitor reads a transmitter worn by a resident that is at risk for wandering. This helps prevent an elopement as staff can be notified by alarms at the door, pocket pagers, and email. A caregiver will be able to quickly find the person at risk and keep them safely inside. Smaller scale versions of this technology are also used in private residences.
Newer versions of this equipment have become more advanced. The newest types of systems may have the ability to: identify a RFID tag by a specific resident and forward that name to the staff; give staff a last known location of the resident; show a photo of the resident at the staff station with a mapped out door location; report the frequency, times and severity of the incidents; and finally, integrate with other access control systems, HVAC, fire alarm equipment and phone equipment.
The reason this type of system seems to be preferable is that it helps monitor those at risk for wandering and elopements while not infringing on the freedom of other residents or visitors to a facility.
Read more about this topic: Wandering (dementia)
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