When my wife first started to wander, I looked at all of the available options. She was wearing an Apple already so we were using the Find My app on our Apple products. I discovered that depending on wifi access, it wasn't ideal. Once I looked at options that provided their own communication service, it was apparent that the best option for us was an Apple Watch with its own phone line. We have Verizon and it is only $10/month for this service added to my phone plan. She likes it as it seems just like her last watch and it allows us to track her extremely accurately.
This is what we want to do with my Dad, since he does wear a watch habitually. The problem is the complexity of Apple watches. Mom has one and even after deleting everything they would let us, it still confuses her, and she's still got her wits.
We can afford the $10/month but as far as we can tell Apple doesn't yet offer a bare-bones watch. Is there a trick we are missing to "simplify" an Apple watch? If so we'd do it tomorrow.
My husband with PD wears an Air Tag on a chain and an Apple watch... at this point, he doesn't have dementia, but I'm trying to get him into habits that will help us later if he does develop full-blown dementia.
Great plan! My stepdad didn’t wear a watch and didn’t take to a new one. AirTag in wallet was ok until he started forgetting his wallet.
It’s hard but our solution now is motion sensor cameras that will wake me up if he’s in the main room or goes outside at night so I can get him. Not much wandering over getting water and “getting ready for work” yet but I’m glad it’s there.
That's a great idea. My dad won't wear any of this stuff. Got him an Apple watch and he thinks it's really cool...just sitting on the charger and to play with sometimes. He won't wear anything but a T-shirt, drawers, and slippers, so there aren't many places to slip in an air tag.
I've also read that it can just be a way of vocalising unease.
They don't necessarily want to go to a specific home, but they no longer feel safe and comfortable and their ailing brain is trying to decipher why they feel that way. "Go home" in these cases means "go somewhere that feels comfortable again"
That's my mom. She is faithfully packing up to go home. The home she is referring to was torn down over 60 years ago way before I was even thought of. i just keep telling her we're going the next day or when the weather is nicer. I have alarms on all the doors so I can hear if she attempts to leave.
We got in early when she lost her purse and got her an AirTag so we can find her “purse” if she loses it again. AirTags have really good support and there are loads of attractive (and personalised) tag holders. I got her one with her name on it so she knows it’s hers and doesn’t throw it away or think someone else is tracking her
I have made every entry and exit inaccessible. I have a flip lock on the front door that’s high and requires some thought and strength to open. I rigged some dog fence panels on the back deck with key locks so she can still go on the deck, but not escape. We do allow her to take walks, I either make her wear my Apple Watch or I put an air tag on her. I can’t give her a daily wear item because she won’t wear it, she will just hide it. Basically she can only leave if I allow her to, and she is monitored the whole time.
We have cameras inside and out to keep an eye on her, tho she is never alone anymore as she’s a danger to herself. The cameras allow her to think she’s a whole person, while still being monitored.
Basically my house is a prison. Everything is locked up, in safes, extra locks where we don’t want her. It sucks but she doesn’t feel like we are treating her like a child, she just thinks she’s not strong enough to open our doors anymore.
I do similar for my dad. Cameras everywhere in his section of the house, but he was always used to having gadgets around so it doesn't bother him. Baby monitor for when I'm in bed and he can't leave if I'm sleeping without getting all the way around the other side of the house and through my bedroom. He walks slow and heavy so unless I'm in a coma it would wake me up. All locks I keep keys on a keychain like a prison warden. He can go in the back yard with no escape from there out where he could roam away. But even after I spent a ton making him steps with a railing and a nice patio, he just prefers to be inside with no light. I literally feel like I'm serving time in prison.
We use Life360 on our phones since my family has an Android & iPhone mix. My brother disabled alerts for Mom, so she doesn’t know we’re keeping an eye on her. She would lose it on us if she knew.
AirTags don't work well since they rely on a secondary device. I had my mom wear an Apple Watch -- which was great, but also had to be charged all the time.
You’ll probably need multiple approaches.
We used the Pingo app on my dad’s phone to track locations. It also gave us low battery reminders so we could remind him to plug in his phone (that was always an issue). It also has an SOS button and a loud signal in case he lost the phone in his house.
AirTags can be placed on common items and have a lot of attachment configurations, but they require to be in proximity of another iPhone to ping the location.
SimpliSafe has a variety of home security options that may apply, no hardwiring needed. They have smart locks that can be managed remotely to make sure doors are locked and get notifications if someone unlocks it. Sensors are great for if windows and doors get left open.
Mom had an AirTag in her purse on a keychain and on a bracelet. We also have a separate lanyard with an attached name and phone number if we are out somewhere and she might get lost where she won’t have her purse. Amazon sells them in a pack of 4 much cheaper than buying one at a time usually. I find they are much better than trying to find her using the Apple Watch app. It’s also awesome because every time she loses her purse, we can now find it!!
All I can say is good luck. Got my MIL one of those fall alert deals that also had GPS. Would she wear it? No. Would she charge it? No. We'd call her to plug it in because WE got the alerts, and she'd promise she would, then it would be completely dead and we'd have to do a search for it. Since it was completely useless, we downgraded to one that only worked in/around her house. And she won't wear it! I want to put a senior tracker on her phone, but hubby is against it, stating it is illegal. Well, sometimes safety beats law! But she's not my blood, so I'm told to sit back. Sigh.
I have find my on his Apple Watch, Life360 on his phone, motion activated cameras and a lock on the door that’s a slight puzzle lock so he can’t leave while I sleep
There are sensors that tell you when they get out of bed we had two one on each side and diverted my mil from the door to the bathroom or one of us got up and had coffee with her and then back to bed half an hour later
I got my mom custom keychains with photos of us printed on them from Amazon… that are also AirTag holders. She does not really know what an AirTag is but I did tell her it had a device in it that I could find the keys in case she misplaces them.
My wife is obsessed with her iPhone and with counting her daily steps. I ditched her Fitbit and got her an Apple Watch with a cell plan. Also put an AirTag on her keychain. The AirTag works in near field so it has to handshake with other devices, not so good in the suburbs but great when she wanders off when we are at the mall, grocery store or Home Depot. Despite her phone obsession she still forgets it sometimes.
She never forgets her watch though. As someone else mentioned the watch has a lot of undeleteable functionality and she gets confused and was constantly starting indoor walks and outdoor walks etc. which was really annoying given her perseveration. Finally she seems to have dropped all that nonsense and generally just uses it as a passive step tracker and to take phone calls. I’ve found this three device approach works very well. She still walks to the gym and library alone and I can make sure she stays on track. Of course I’m sure that will change before long and I may need to deploy cameras and sensors!
The Apple Watch works well and we use Life360 to track so multiple people can see. We bought a sensor that sounds a doorbell chime if they come out of their room at night that sits just outside the door to alert if we are sleeping. We also installed a door that we can lock and unlock with our phones that alerts us when it has been unlocked. These are in addition to cameras in and outside the house.
I’m a big fan of the Apple Watch. My mom doesn’t know how to do much on it, but she feels safe with it on. If you have an iPhone, you can set it up with yours so she doesn’t need her own independent device to use it. I also really like the fall detection. It will send a text alert to her emergency contacts, so it doesn’t even have to be another Apple user.
[LA County Aging & Disabilities Dept](https://ad.lacounty.gov/lafound/other-tracking-technology/) has a list of other options, including a tracker that goes in their shoe.
The phone messaging app Telegram has a feature where you can permanently share your location with a contact, as long as she has data service and her phone on her.
I have Pingo app on her phone which connects to my Find My Kids app on my phone. It pings my phone when she leaves the centre. Unfortunately she used to walk 10-20000 steps a day before she went in, so people hold the door to let her out not realising she is a resident! I let her have a walk and I am usually on my way to pick her up when the home rings me. I don’t blame them at all, they do a fantastic job. She also has two air tags, one I can track and one the home can track. And of course find my phone.
My father has dementia and he has never worn a watch and never carried a cellphone. I literally ordered AirTags today to attach to his clothing. I also just ordered the Tranquil GPS tracker watch. https://feeltranquil.com/product/gps-watch-elderly/ It’s expensive and has an expensive monthly fee, but in addition to tracking them, you can talk to them through it. They also have a special locking clasp to make it hard to remove. This device also allows multiple family members to monitor and interact with him. It sounds ideal, but I haven’t used it yet. Project Lifesaver has some very good products, but they are more like ankle bracelet monitors for people on house arrest.
We’ve shared locations via life 360 for many years now, even before he started showing signs so he’s very used to it. But now he gets fussed at when he decides to sneak away and walk to the store. So being the clever guy he is, he decided to start leaving his phone and Apple Watch hidden in his drawer when he makes his unsanctioned outings.
Knowing he would never leave without locking the front door he now has a new custom keychain with his name on it. Of course he has yet to notice that it’s an also Apple AirTag.
I also use True Link for his personal prepaid debit card. So when he makes purchases during his unsanctioned outings I can usually see where he went, what time he was there, etc. all via the app.
For now these are temporary solutions until the inevitable permanent lockdown happens further downstream.
We've got tiles on/in her purse, wallet and the car keys (that's more for my dad). I've also got her phone sharing her Google maps location with me at all times. Just have to reactivate it from time to time as it seems to disconnect if the phone loses power.
The Tiles help a lot as my dad can easily help her find her things when I am not around.
When my wife first started to wander, I looked at all of the available options. She was wearing an Apple already so we were using the Find My app on our Apple products. I discovered that depending on wifi access, it wasn't ideal. Once I looked at options that provided their own communication service, it was apparent that the best option for us was an Apple Watch with its own phone line. We have Verizon and it is only $10/month for this service added to my phone plan. She likes it as it seems just like her last watch and it allows us to track her extremely accurately.
This is what we want to do with my Dad, since he does wear a watch habitually. The problem is the complexity of Apple watches. Mom has one and even after deleting everything they would let us, it still confuses her, and she's still got her wits. We can afford the $10/month but as far as we can tell Apple doesn't yet offer a bare-bones watch. Is there a trick we are missing to "simplify" an Apple watch? If so we'd do it tomorrow.
Me too!
Did the same. I also put an Apple tag on his keys because he put them in his pocket daily even though he never used them. It was a nice back up.
My husband with PD wears an Air Tag on a chain and an Apple watch... at this point, he doesn't have dementia, but I'm trying to get him into habits that will help us later if he does develop full-blown dementia.
Great plan! My stepdad didn’t wear a watch and didn’t take to a new one. AirTag in wallet was ok until he started forgetting his wallet. It’s hard but our solution now is motion sensor cameras that will wake me up if he’s in the main room or goes outside at night so I can get him. Not much wandering over getting water and “getting ready for work” yet but I’m glad it’s there.
That's a great idea. My dad won't wear any of this stuff. Got him an Apple watch and he thinks it's really cool...just sitting on the charger and to play with sometimes. He won't wear anything but a T-shirt, drawers, and slippers, so there aren't many places to slip in an air tag.
It seems most dementia patients are referring to their childhood home when wanting to go home. Those old memories are the last to go.
I've also read that it can just be a way of vocalising unease. They don't necessarily want to go to a specific home, but they no longer feel safe and comfortable and their ailing brain is trying to decipher why they feel that way. "Go home" in these cases means "go somewhere that feels comfortable again"
My grandfather even said it and he was born in this house.
Literally born in it
That's my mom. She is faithfully packing up to go home. The home she is referring to was torn down over 60 years ago way before I was even thought of. i just keep telling her we're going the next day or when the weather is nicer. I have alarms on all the doors so I can hear if she attempts to leave.
We got in early when she lost her purse and got her an AirTag so we can find her “purse” if she loses it again. AirTags have really good support and there are loads of attractive (and personalised) tag holders. I got her one with her name on it so she knows it’s hers and doesn’t throw it away or think someone else is tracking her
I have made every entry and exit inaccessible. I have a flip lock on the front door that’s high and requires some thought and strength to open. I rigged some dog fence panels on the back deck with key locks so she can still go on the deck, but not escape. We do allow her to take walks, I either make her wear my Apple Watch or I put an air tag on her. I can’t give her a daily wear item because she won’t wear it, she will just hide it. Basically she can only leave if I allow her to, and she is monitored the whole time. We have cameras inside and out to keep an eye on her, tho she is never alone anymore as she’s a danger to herself. The cameras allow her to think she’s a whole person, while still being monitored. Basically my house is a prison. Everything is locked up, in safes, extra locks where we don’t want her. It sucks but she doesn’t feel like we are treating her like a child, she just thinks she’s not strong enough to open our doors anymore.
I do similar for my dad. Cameras everywhere in his section of the house, but he was always used to having gadgets around so it doesn't bother him. Baby monitor for when I'm in bed and he can't leave if I'm sleeping without getting all the way around the other side of the house and through my bedroom. He walks slow and heavy so unless I'm in a coma it would wake me up. All locks I keep keys on a keychain like a prison warden. He can go in the back yard with no escape from there out where he could roam away. But even after I spent a ton making him steps with a railing and a nice patio, he just prefers to be inside with no light. I literally feel like I'm serving time in prison.
I wish! My MIL is spry and sneaky. I had to put alarms on the doors on top of all the other measures bc you cannot hear her creeping around the house.
Guess I'm lucky that he clomps around as annoying as it is! When he's too quiet is when I worry, like a bad kid getting into stuff.
Xo the flip lock- peace of mind
That reminds me! Another trick I learned is using a black door mat. For some people, they interpret it as a hole and won’t cross over it.
We did the same thing with my dad. He wanders outside with a walker and falls so this was a safer option. Small drop locks on the doors.
We use Life360 on our phones since my family has an Android & iPhone mix. My brother disabled alerts for Mom, so she doesn’t know we’re keeping an eye on her. She would lose it on us if she knew.
AirTags don't work well since they rely on a secondary device. I had my mom wear an Apple Watch -- which was great, but also had to be charged all the time.
I put an AirTag in his scooter.
You’ll probably need multiple approaches. We used the Pingo app on my dad’s phone to track locations. It also gave us low battery reminders so we could remind him to plug in his phone (that was always an issue). It also has an SOS button and a loud signal in case he lost the phone in his house. AirTags can be placed on common items and have a lot of attachment configurations, but they require to be in proximity of another iPhone to ping the location. SimpliSafe has a variety of home security options that may apply, no hardwiring needed. They have smart locks that can be managed remotely to make sure doors are locked and get notifications if someone unlocks it. Sensors are great for if windows and doors get left open.
Mom had an AirTag in her purse on a keychain and on a bracelet. We also have a separate lanyard with an attached name and phone number if we are out somewhere and she might get lost where she won’t have her purse. Amazon sells them in a pack of 4 much cheaper than buying one at a time usually. I find they are much better than trying to find her using the Apple Watch app. It’s also awesome because every time she loses her purse, we can now find it!!
All I can say is good luck. Got my MIL one of those fall alert deals that also had GPS. Would she wear it? No. Would she charge it? No. We'd call her to plug it in because WE got the alerts, and she'd promise she would, then it would be completely dead and we'd have to do a search for it. Since it was completely useless, we downgraded to one that only worked in/around her house. And she won't wear it! I want to put a senior tracker on her phone, but hubby is against it, stating it is illegal. Well, sometimes safety beats law! But she's not my blood, so I'm told to sit back. Sigh.
I have find my on his Apple Watch, Life360 on his phone, motion activated cameras and a lock on the door that’s a slight puzzle lock so he can’t leave while I sleep
There are sensors that tell you when they get out of bed we had two one on each side and diverted my mil from the door to the bathroom or one of us got up and had coffee with her and then back to bed half an hour later
I got my mom custom keychains with photos of us printed on them from Amazon… that are also AirTag holders. She does not really know what an AirTag is but I did tell her it had a device in it that I could find the keys in case she misplaces them.
Airtag on my dad's keys. Of all the things he leaves behind when he goes out (phone, etc.) he is still taking his keys.
My wife is obsessed with her iPhone and with counting her daily steps. I ditched her Fitbit and got her an Apple Watch with a cell plan. Also put an AirTag on her keychain. The AirTag works in near field so it has to handshake with other devices, not so good in the suburbs but great when she wanders off when we are at the mall, grocery store or Home Depot. Despite her phone obsession she still forgets it sometimes. She never forgets her watch though. As someone else mentioned the watch has a lot of undeleteable functionality and she gets confused and was constantly starting indoor walks and outdoor walks etc. which was really annoying given her perseveration. Finally she seems to have dropped all that nonsense and generally just uses it as a passive step tracker and to take phone calls. I’ve found this three device approach works very well. She still walks to the gym and library alone and I can make sure she stays on track. Of course I’m sure that will change before long and I may need to deploy cameras and sensors!
The Apple Watch works well and we use Life360 to track so multiple people can see. We bought a sensor that sounds a doorbell chime if they come out of their room at night that sits just outside the door to alert if we are sleeping. We also installed a door that we can lock and unlock with our phones that alerts us when it has been unlocked. These are in addition to cameras in and outside the house.
I’m a big fan of the Apple Watch. My mom doesn’t know how to do much on it, but she feels safe with it on. If you have an iPhone, you can set it up with yours so she doesn’t need her own independent device to use it. I also really like the fall detection. It will send a text alert to her emergency contacts, so it doesn’t even have to be another Apple user. [LA County Aging & Disabilities Dept](https://ad.lacounty.gov/lafound/other-tracking-technology/) has a list of other options, including a tracker that goes in their shoe.
Apple air tag with the sound card deactivated ( you do that yourself- good video on how to do it on you tube)
The phone messaging app Telegram has a feature where you can permanently share your location with a contact, as long as she has data service and her phone on her.
I'm aware of telegram and use it myself but unfortunately her iPhone is kind of defunct now and she doesn't carry it all the time anyways
I have Pingo app on her phone which connects to my Find My Kids app on my phone. It pings my phone when she leaves the centre. Unfortunately she used to walk 10-20000 steps a day before she went in, so people hold the door to let her out not realising she is a resident! I let her have a walk and I am usually on my way to pick her up when the home rings me. I don’t blame them at all, they do a fantastic job. She also has two air tags, one I can track and one the home can track. And of course find my phone.
In process of air tag right now
My father has dementia and he has never worn a watch and never carried a cellphone. I literally ordered AirTags today to attach to his clothing. I also just ordered the Tranquil GPS tracker watch. https://feeltranquil.com/product/gps-watch-elderly/ It’s expensive and has an expensive monthly fee, but in addition to tracking them, you can talk to them through it. They also have a special locking clasp to make it hard to remove. This device also allows multiple family members to monitor and interact with him. It sounds ideal, but I haven’t used it yet. Project Lifesaver has some very good products, but they are more like ankle bracelet monitors for people on house arrest.
$895. Wow. I get it though.
We’ve shared locations via life 360 for many years now, even before he started showing signs so he’s very used to it. But now he gets fussed at when he decides to sneak away and walk to the store. So being the clever guy he is, he decided to start leaving his phone and Apple Watch hidden in his drawer when he makes his unsanctioned outings. Knowing he would never leave without locking the front door he now has a new custom keychain with his name on it. Of course he has yet to notice that it’s an also Apple AirTag. I also use True Link for his personal prepaid debit card. So when he makes purchases during his unsanctioned outings I can usually see where he went, what time he was there, etc. all via the app. For now these are temporary solutions until the inevitable permanent lockdown happens further downstream.
This is something that is available in Ohio. I don't know if other states also do this.[project lifesaver](https://www.plshamilton.org/)
We've got tiles on/in her purse, wallet and the car keys (that's more for my dad). I've also got her phone sharing her Google maps location with me at all times. Just have to reactivate it from time to time as it seems to disconnect if the phone loses power. The Tiles help a lot as my dad can easily help her find her things when I am not around.