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4 Things You Must Know Before Buying a GPS Tracker for Dementia
4 Things You Must Know Before Buying a GPS Tracker for Dementia
Loved ones living with dementia often experience problems with their cognition and comprehension, which causes them to “wander” and forget familiar places. This causes stress for caregivers and loved ones, as they can’t be there all the time to keep an eye on the senior living with dementia.
A GPS location device can be used to track and identify the location of patients living with dementia if they’re lost or if there’s concern over their whereabouts.
Buying a GPS tracking device has a number of advantages for you as the caregiver and for your loved one living with dementia. For instance, it:
- Offers you peace of mind when you’re away from your loved one
- Allows your senior loved one to retain their independence
- Helps them feel safe when they forget where they are
- Helps maintain a good quality of life by keeping them at home instead of in a care home
When buying a GPS tracker for dementia care, you need to know that not all GPS trackers are created equally.
GPS trackers differ in terms of features, with some differing also in their reliability and accuracy.
At TechSilver, we understand you want the best when it comes to your loved one. Here, we’ll equip you with what you need to look out for before buying a GPS tracker.
1 - Frequent and Accurate Location Updates
Frequent and accurate location updates are the most essential features in a GPS tracking device.
If the device can’t track the exact location of your loved one, they can get lost or wander off into a potentially dangerous situation.
This means that their safety is not assured and neither is your peace of mind.
When you set out to buy a GPS tracking device, ensure that it updates the location as frequently as possible and that it also shows an accurate location of your loved one when outdoors.
It’s also essential that the GPS tracking device gives location history, allowing you to play back their route. This will allow you to see where they’ve been on past dates and establish a pattern of their movements in case they go missing.
Our experts here at TechSilver have created a Waterproof GPS tracking device for dementia care that gives rapid location updates in intervals of 1, 10, and 60 minutes.
As the caregiver, you can remotely decide the update frequency and change it as you wish.
This will help you know the whereabouts of your loved one at all times, assuring their safety and eliminating all stress and worry related to them getting lost.
You can also download a free PDF that explains the causes of wandering and how to cope with it.
2 - Multiple Wearing Options
A GPS tracker can be lost or forgotten at home, which defeats the whole purpose of buying one. That’s why you must ensure that it’s easily wearable and your loved one has it with them throughout the day.
Sometimes, seniors living with dementia will refuse to wear their GPS tracking devices as they make them feel stigmatised, or possibly self conscious.
This can be agonising for caregivers, as they have no way of tracking them when they disappear.
Look out for the following features when buying a GPS tracking device to ensure your loved one wears it comfortably all the time:
- Small and discreet design
- Can be worn in a way in which they’ll keep it on (i.e. as a keyring, necklace or watch)
- Lightweight
At TechSilver, our GPS trackers for dementia care are built so that they look nothing like other GPS trackers. They’re stylish and discreet, which encourages the dementia patient to keep them on.
This is unlike other GPS trackers on the market that make dementia patients feel embarrassed and marginalised, causing them to reject the devices.
We have a wide range of discreet solutions, including GPS Tracking Insoles that can be put into a senior’s shoes to help keep track of their movements.
The insoles are water-resistant and easy to fit. They also have a smart feature that allows you to get alerts on mobile and PC.
Discreet GPS tracking devices for dementia are more likely to be worn and make a crucial difference when it comes to the safety of your loved one.
3 - Emergency Distress/SOS Alerts
When your loved one needs urgent help or when they leave their safe zone, a good GPS tracking device for dementia is often able to alert you immediately.
This will help you spring into action and seek help for your loved one, or go to their location and pick them up before they get into a dangerous situation.
For example, some of our GPS trackers for dementia care have the following special features:
- Emergency SOS button: When your loved one presses the button, it alerts you on your mobile phone proactively.
- Geo-Fences: When the senior crosses or enters these safe zones, you’ll be alerted, allowing you to find them before they get lost.
- Two-way SOS calls: This allows you to listen to your loved one’s surroundings and will enable you to keep them calm and assure them you’re on the way.
Remember, most GPS devices from TechSilver come with a free app (Android & iOS) or tracking platform. You can sync the app with your mobile phone to see the exact location of your loved one.
4 - Long Battery Life
One of the most challenging things about GPS trackers is the small battery that results in a short-lived battery life.
This can limit the effectiveness of the GPS tracking device if it goes off and doesn’t offer alerts when your loved one is alone and in need of help.
Thanks to advancements in technology, a battery can be small in size but still have an extra-long battery life. This is why you must enquire about the battery life of a GPS tracking device before you buy one.
If your senior loved one lives alone then they may not be able to charge it every day, so the battery life of their tracker is of paramount importance.
With a long-lasting battery, you won’t need to charge your device as often, meaning less inconvenience for you, your family and any other caregivers.
TechSilver has a wide range of tracking devices, with many boasting long-lasting battery life and some lasting anywhere between several weeks to several months.
This means that there is no likelihood of the device turning off when your loved one is out there alone if you have purchased one suitable for your charging pattern.
Our latest tracker, the Waterproof Dementia Tracker GPS Keyring, also comes with an easy-to-use charging dock, which can be operated easily by a senior with shaky hands.
Expert Tip: When you buy a tracking device for dementia care, ensure the company you buy it from offers excellent customer support. They must be able to offer assistance when you’re facing any challenges with the device.
Here’s what one customer had to say about our customer service:
“Outstanding customer service
Louisa bent over backwards to help me get the right product and to set it up for me as quickly as possible.”
— Paul F – Verified Customer – 5 Star Review
Get a Reliable GPS Tracker From TechSilver
At TechSilver, we have created and sourced a big selection of different tracking devices for dementia care. This is because we value seniors and we understand the need to keep them in a home environment, living independently, for as long as possible.
There are several choices with various features that you can choose from, as shown in the table below.
| GPS Device | Special Features |
| Necklace GPS Tracker |
|
| Waterproof GPS Tracker |
|
| GPS Insoles |
|
| Small GPS Keyring Tracker |
|
All of our GPS trackers come with a free app or tracking website. This will allow you to receive rapid location updates on your phone at custom intervals.
If you’d like any more info, see our website for contact details!
Hi, I'm Miles
I’m the founder of TechSilver, the world’s leading assistive tech specialists. My team has made these resources to help people care for their loved ones, so we hope we can help you today!
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Our Bestselling Trackers for Dementia
Waterproof Dementia Tracker GPS Keyring w/ Extra-Long Battery Life
- 10-22 Days' Battery Life on Average
- Fully Waterproof - Safe in the Shower or Bath
- Easy Magnetic Charging w/ Included Cradle
- 2 Way SOS Calling
- Safe Zone Exit Alerts
Dementia Tracker GPS Keyring/Necklace
- Our Smallest, Lightest Tracker
- Water Resistant
- Fast Charging - 1.5 Hours to 100%
- 2 Way SOS Calling
- Safe Zone Exit Alerts
