Wave of the Future?

A sheriff in Genesee County, MI has teamed up with an Elder Care Abuse & Prevention program to utilize technology to care for elderly loved ones. Small GPS devices are being used with patients who have Alzheimer's and/or dementia. An unfortunate result of memory loss associated with these illnesses is the tendency for the person to wander. If not monitored by a caregiver or if the appropriate alarms or securities are not in place, a patient can wander from the home. When this happens, the results can often be tragic.

A total of 50 devices were purchased using federal grants and distributed by the prevention program. They attach to the senior's clothing with a clip and the light weight of the device (less than 3 ounces) does not hinder movement for the user. Caregivers, loved ones and even emergency services can go to a web site to monitor the exact location of the GPS.

Time will tell if this technology will catch on in other communities but with the aging of our society, the future is now.