I'm wondering if any of your loved ones are registered with this program and what your experience has been. My husband became disoriented for the first time during his walk around the neighbourhood and was brought home by the police. They have suggested this program which would allow them to track him easily if he became lost again. I believe the program started in the US so some of you may know about it. It entails wearing a rather large bracelet that is never taken off. My husband won't even wear a watch so I don't know how he would go for this.
inge, I have my husband enrolled in this program in the United States, it is called Safe Return. The loved one can either wear a bracelet or it can be made to wear around the neck. It has a specific identification number on it that is linked to the police department and also to contact names and numbers which you provide to them. It is a good security system and much safer than having nothing at all. My husband would not be able to tell anyone who he is or where he lives so the bracelet identifies all of that to whoever is trying to help him. It states that he is memory impaired. The bracelet says to help _________ gives the name of the loved one and then gives a phone number for the people to call, this is a phone number to the safe alert headquarters, then they in turn start contacting the contact people you have listed and the when you call the police department all you have to do is give the Identification number on the bracelet and they also will know the contact people. You are also offered a necklace or bracelet to wear in case something happens to you, it says I am a caregiver for a memory impaired person and gives the ID Number
Log onto my home page - www.thealzheimerspouse.com - and look on the left side. You'll have to scroll down a bit, but there is a section on Project Lifesaver. Click on it. It explains the whole program. It is different than Safe Return, in that the patient wears a large bracelet that is a tracking device. As soon as the person is lost, you notify the police and they can track the person through the GPS in the bracelet. They use cars and helicopters. Project Lifesaver is only available in the counties who have signed on for it. I do not know if it is available in Canada.
Jane explained Safe Return very well, which is different from Project Lifesaver. Safe Return is now linked with Medic Alert, so all of the AD person's medical information is also available. This is the link for Safe Return/Medic Alert - http://www.alz.org/national/documents/brochure_masr.pdf
Yes, Joan, it is available in our area and was highly recommended by the police. The thing is my husband is not a classic "wanderer" so I don't know if I want to go so heavy duty. He won't go for a walk without me again, at least he is agreeable to that for now. It was a very upsetting experience for both of us and I sure wouldn't want it to be repeated. There is another program that is a requirement if he gets into the day programme. It is a registration with the local police department. I will also check to see if Safe Return is available here. Thanks to both you and Jane for your response.
Inge - you said it "at least he is agreeable to that for now". We never know if they will start to wander. My FIL didn't until later in the disease, then he would be gone so fast it was a job to find him. My MIL did not use any of that because she felt she could control it. IF you can get him use to wearing something now vs later, it probably would be better for you peace of mind.
Hi Inge, My DH has the Project lifesaver bracelet on and doesn't mind it at all. It is the size of a watch and someone comes to the house and changes the batteries once a month. It costs $25 per month. It is worth it to me not to worry. He is going to a Home care facility this week and I am going to keep it on him just in case. Denille
I wish our county participated in this. You frequently see spots in the news where the police want you to be on the look out for an elderly person who has wandered away. Sometimes the person is found dead days later only a few hundred yards from the house. You would think that they would see the benefit to them as well as to the family. We are registered with Safe Return and I wear a caretaker's bracelet in case anything happens to me.
My husband is out walking on his own right now, after three weeks of not doing it. He has been out 1.5 hours, but his regular walk takes over 2 hours so he is not yet late getting back. And yes, I'm having some problems about it.
Yes he follows the same route all the time. It is on a larger secondary road, all residential and all with sidewalks. The problem with the same route is that part of it is through a real residential area and when I've thought to go and find him, I've never succeeded. There was a time when I would run an errand while he was out, but I don't do that anymore.