Wandering seniors: A GPS shoe to help protect seniors with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia

May 1, 2012 - PRLog -- The Society of Certified Senior Advisor’s has released a new article, “The GPS Shoe for Wanderers” that discusses how to help protect seniors with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia that wander off. This type of behavior can be a great risk to the health and safety of that senior. There are currently about 5.3 million Americans suffering from Alzheimer’s, and about 60 percent of those will wander off at some point or another, the majority of which will wander on more than one occasion. GPS shoes can help make caring for loved ones that wander more manageable.

GPS shoes were initially developed for serious runners and misplaced children, but the use for this technology has proven to also be effective in protecting seniors with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. The GPS technology not only allows families to know exactly where their loved one is at all times, but users can also setup a “safe-zone” and should the senior wander out of this specified area the family or caregivers will be notified immediately.

Excerpts from this article:

“Other tracking devices include watches or bracelets with a GPS inside. However, it is easier for a person to forget to put those devices on before leaving the house. Shoes are more of a necessity, and most people don’t forget to slide their shoes on before going somewhere. This increases the chances that a person who wanders would be wearing the GPS device and therefore would be locatable.”

“The GPS technology in a pair of shoes can help bring peace of mind to families and caregivers while assuring a safer environment for seniors suffering from wandering behaviors.”

To read the full version of "The GPS Shoe for Wanderers" go to http://www.csa.us/gpsshoe

The Society of Certified Senior Advisors provides free resources and tools for members as an ongoing commitment in helping professionals to understand the complex and dynamic lives of modern senior citizens. SCSA has a suite of information including educational webinars, white papers, articles and more! Find out about all the resources SCSA has to offer at http://www.csa.us/FreeResources

About SCSA

SCSA’s mission is to educate professionals to work more effectively with their senior clients. For those who work with seniors, this means understanding the key health, social and financial factors that are important to seniors—and how these factors work together.

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