Alzheimer Uniti launches GPS project to help people with dementia
Tuesday 03 May 2011
Alzheimer Uniti has launched the “Progetto Diogene” (The Diogenes Project) which is providing global positioning system (GPS) devices to people with dementia who are at risk, on an experimental basis. The device, in the form of a wristwatch or a pendant worn around the neck, continuously monitors the whereabouts of a person each time that they wander out of their usual established perimeter. The trial is in its first 3-month phase and involves twenty people with dementia. With the exception of two people, who are in nursing homes, all are living at home.
This project has been implemented in order to help address the fact that there has been an increase in the number of missing people over the age of sixty- five in recent years in Italy and that sixteen percent of this group is represented by people with Alzheimer disease (with memory deficits and spatio-temporal disorientation, putting them at risk of getting lost). In addition, at a more advanced stage, people with Alzheimer’s disease may also exhibit the phenomenon of wandering and escape-seeking, if they are not watched very attentively. In these two situations described above, the person might walk away from their home, leading to a situation where they might, for example, get injured or where they could fall victim to criminal behaviour. Therefore, Alzheimer Uniti urgently wanted to raise the awareness about this issue and also explore ways to address this situation by promoting research.
The project is sponsored by the Ministry of the Interior through the Commissioner for Missing Persons and supported by the Police and Carabinieri. It was proceeded by awareness- raising work in these various institutions and by the training of the technical experts by Alzheimer Uniti. Alzheimer Uniti also selected those people with dementia who were most prone to these problems. The results of this project will be announced in September 2011 during the meeting at the Campidoglio (City Hall) for World Alzheimer’s Day.
For further information please see the Alzheimer Uniti website at: