How Wearable Technology Keeps Alzheimer’s Patients Safe

Wearable technology is helping Alzheimer’s patients to stay more independent and safe. Alzheimer’s is a disease that causes a multitude of problems including:

• Confusion
• Memory Loss
• Decreased Judgement
• Wandering
• Changes in Personality

Wearable technology is starting to play a large part in helping patients stay independent and safe.

The following technologies can help an Alzheimer’s patient in a number of ways.

Problem: Patient Gets Lost

Knowing the location of an Alzhermiers patient is sometimes lifesaving. Patients are known for memory loss and wondering can easily get lost and not know who they are or where they live. I myself had an elderly man knock on my door one evening. He didn’t know who he was, where he came from or where he lived. I ended up taking him in and calling the police. Fortunately, he was a known wanderer and they were able to quickly assess where he had come from and get him home safe.

Solution – GPS Tracking

Wearable devices have GPS tracking built-in enabling carers to find the location of a patient quickly and accurately. Loved ones can also see where they are and set up virtual boundaries so that if an Alzheimer’s patient wanders off they can be alerted.

Problem: Communication

Alzheimer patients often get confused and not only don’t realise they have a mobile phone or how it works. Memory loss is a common problem meaning they don’t always remember to take it when they go out.

Solution: Watch Calling

Smartwatches specifically for Alzheimer patients and the elderly have a phone built-in enabling you to make calls without the wearer needing to answer it. This means you can talk directly to the patient or loved one and have a two-way conversation through a smartwatch. This is useful if they are lost or have wandered off. You can just call the smartwatch using a normal phone.

Problem: Medical Emergencies

Falls are common in Alzheimer patients. Not only do you not know where they are but you cannot contact them. Searches can go on for hours and if a patient has lost consciousness it can be even more vital that they receive medical help fast.

Solution: Medical Emergencies

Using a combination of GPS wearable technology, voice calls and fall detection you can quickly identify the patient’s location and potential level of emergency. A number of wearable technology devices for Alzheimer patients include fall detection this is where the device can detect if a patient has fallen. The device can also contact you to alert they have fallen so you can take action.

Medication Reminders

Smartwatches come with many features and some have apps that will remind you to take medication. When to eat etc.