New GPS program will help protect Alzheimer’s patients
Posted January 18, 2012 5:58 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Halifax Regional Police have launched a pilot program designed to help seniors with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia who may wander away from home.
The Nova Scotia Department of Seniors will fund the year-long project, which will include 10 GPS-enabled bracelets.
Const. Matthew MacGillivray started to develop the idea five years ago, saying he wanted to create more awareness about a major safety issue for Alzheimer’s patients – and help address the problem.
“One of those primary goals is bringing those who may wander as a result of some of those conditions home safely,” he said. “We want to bring them back to their loved ones.”
MacGillivray says he consulted with several experts to help develop the program, including Linda Bird with the Alzheimer’s Society of Nova Scotia.
“Not everybody would want to be monitored about where they go,” she said. “For each family they have to ask, does this treat the person with dignity? Is this something that the person would agree to or does agree to?”
The program is free for participants and MacGillivray says he hopes the provincial funding will continue after the 12 months are up.
“What happens after that is really dependant on the results of the program,” he said. “It’s a pilot program that’s one of the first of its kind in Canada. So we’re kind of venturing into uncharted waters here.”
