Aisha Arain

IR 1/ 10 GT/ 2
February 8, 2020
Annotation

Topfer, Leigh- Ann. GPS locator devices for people with dementia. Ottawa: CADTH; 2016 Aug.
(CADTH issues in emerging health technologies; issue 147)

This article explains details and information regarding a GPS tracking device for elderly people

who suffer from dementia, or any cognitive impairment. The article begins by stating that wandering is a

common behavior for people with dementia, and could cause them to become disoriented or lost.

Published estimates are that 12% to 60% of individuals with dementia will wander and become lost at

some point. Locator devices such as GPS trackers are assistive technologies that can help promote safe

walking by alerting caregivers when a person with dementia wanders outside of a designated area, by

providing geographical coordinates of that person so they can be found more easily. A according to a

2015 Swedish report of three case studies, the use of GPS locating devices increased the independent

outdoor activities of two of the three participants with dementia. Locator devices may also reduce the

time required to find missing individuals with dementia and the costs associated with search and rescue

operations. Although they are very helpful, these devices should be seen as an addition to, rather than a

replacement, for other types of care to improve the lives of those with dementia.

This article was very helpful in that it explained the purpose of GPS locating devices for

dementia patients. The article was very well organized, allowing the reader to navigate the source with

ease. There was plenty of numerical data and percent included demonstrating the need for GPS devices.

This article cited 61 different peer-reviewed sources, proving its reliability. A caregiver or family member

of a dementia patient who is looking for a way to prevent their loved one from wandering and getting lost

would benefit from this article.