GPS
Technology and Alzheimer's Disease: Novel Use for an Existing
Technology
by Robin
Brett Parnes, MS, MPH
Experts predict the number of Americans diagnosed with Alzheimer’s
disease, a disorder that robs victims of their memory, cognitive
abilities, and personality, will triple in the next fifty years. As
the disease progresses, people with Alzheimer’s may lose track of
time and become increasingly disoriented. As a result, for many
Alzheimer’s sufferers (and those who take care of them) wandering is
a huge problem. Safe Return, a national, government-funded
identification program, helps locate lost Alzheimer’s patients in a
safe and timely manner. Also coming onto the scene are new tracking
systems using Global Positioning System (GPS) technology may help
keep track of Alzheimer’s disease sufferers.
Wandering:
A Major Problem in People with Alzheimer’s
Wandering is a
potentially life-threatening and frighteningly common behavior seen
in Alzheimer’s patients. Between 60% to 70% of all patients with
Alzheimer’s will wander, and possibly get lost, at some point during
the course of their disease, of these a staggering 50% will die if
they are not found within 24 hours.
Memory loss, sleep
disturbance, and erosion of language seem to contribute to
wandering. Other causes include restlessness, stress, and medication
side effects.
What
Can Be Done for Wanderers?
In 1994, the U.S.
Department of Justice partnered with the National Alzheimer’s
Association to create Safe Return, an identification program that
unites Alzheimer’s disease wanderers with their loved ones. For a
fee, families can register a patient with Alzheimer’s. The patient’s
name, photo, identifying characteristics, and emergency contacts are
placed in a database. The patients wear an accessory—a pin,
necklace, or bracelet—indicating that they are memory impaired.
Then, if the patient is found wandering, a call can be placed to the
24-hour toll-free hotline listed on the Safe Return accessory. Local
law enforcement agencies can then use this information to return the
wanderers to their homes.
Another option
available to keep a watchful eye on wandering Alzheimer’s patients
is to use personal locator devices that integrate GPS technology
with mapping programs and digital wireless gadgets. Still in the
early phases of use, such devices receive signals from satellites to
tell users where on earth they are.
What
is GPS and How Does it Work?
GPS, formally known
as the Navstar Global Positioning System, was initiated in 1973 by
the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) for navigation purposes. GPS
continues to be operated and maintained by the DOD today, but
receivers can be used by civilians and are being built into a
variety of products. For example, OnStar uses GPS technology to help
lost drivers figure out how to get where they need to go.
Through a network
of 24 orbiting satellites, GPS units on the ground receive radio
signals and compute the altitude, longitude, and latitude of
somebody to within one-tenth of a mile In the last few years, GPS
receivers have become cheaper, smaller, and more accurate (making
them more enticing to use and easier to come by).
How
Can GPS Help Those with Alzheimer’s Disease?
Personal locator
devices using GPS technology can be used to pinpoint the location of
lost Alzheimer’s patients. For example, Applied Digital Solutions
sells a device called the Digital Angel, which is worn as a watch,
plus has a separate clip-on pager. Using GPS mapping software and
cell phone networks, the Digital Angel alerts caretakers by e-mail
(sent to a cell phone, personal computer, personal digital assistant
(PDA), or text pager) when an Alzheimer’s patient has wandered out
of a pre-designated area. Two other companies selling similar
devices are SIDSA, based in Spain, and Secom, based in Japan.
Researchers at the
University of Washington are working on a hand held device called
the Activity Compass. If the Activity Compass detects that an
Alzheimer’s patient might be lost, it will actually prompt him or
her to head home (pointing in the right direction), before sounding
the alarm. The Activity compass will be not available to consumers
for another two to three years.
The advantages of
using a GPS locator device over more traditional personal alert
systems is that the user doesn’t have to activate it and the
technology works over a larger geographic area. The main
disadvantage is cost.
The
Bottom Line
Wandering is a
serious problem for Alzheimer’s patients and their caretakers. There
are a few simple measures that caretakers can follow, however, to
help prevent wandering:
- Conceal or camouflage doors.
- Install locks, alarm systems, and wandering monitoring
devices.
- Label doors to explain the purpose of each room and to
discourage exit/entry. Use warning signs or symbols that say "Do
Not Enter" or "No!"
- Try to identify when the patient is likely to wander and
distract him or her with another activity at that time.
- Encourage activity that will relieve the patient’s anxiety.
- Reassure the patient that he or she is in the right place.
If you are a
caretaker for an Alzheimer’s patient, registering him or her in the
Safe Return program may be a great option for your peace of mind.
But if you’d feel better being able to find exactly where your lost
loved one is very quickly (and can spend the money to do so), you
might want to consider purchasing a personal locator device that
uses GPS technology.
One important word
of caution. Using GPS devices to track your loved ones can be
considered somewhat controversial. Be sure to talk with your loved
one, his or her doctor, and other members of your family before
making this decision.
RESOURCES:
Alzheimer’s
Disease Education and Referral Center
http://www.alzheimers.org/
National
Alzheimer’s Association
http://www.alz.org/
Federal Aviation
Administration: Satellite Navigation
http://gps.faa.gov/
Digital
Angel
http://www.digitalangel.net/
University of
Washington: Assisted Cognition
http://www.cs.washington.edu/assistcog
SOURCES:
Alzheimer’s
Disease Information Page. National Institute of Neurological
Disorders and Stroke. Available at: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/health_and_medical/disorders/alzheimersdisease_doc.htm
Accessed June 17, 2003.
Managing Problem
Behaviors in Long-Term Care Facilities. Alzheimer’s Disease
Education and Referral Center. Available at: http://www.alzheimers.org/pubs/conv09n3.html
Accessed June 17, 2003.
Safe Return
Program Highlights the Dangers of Alzheimer's Disease and Wandering.
AlzheimerSupport.com.
Available at: http://www.alzheimersupport.com/library/showarticle.cfm/id/1903/searchtext/wanderingAccessed
June 17, 2003.
Last reviewed July 2003 by Andrew
Wilner, MD
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