Personal Injury Law

Going high-tech to track Alzheimer's patients

As a personal injury lawyer, I am thrilled to see this new wandering device for Alzheimer?s patients. One of the scariest issues surrounding the degenerative disease is the propensity to wander and become confused with their surroundings. Since, more than 5 million Americans are estimated to be living with Alzheimer's, the new technology has the potential to allow many family members to worry less about their elderly loved ones (AP for Findlaw, 11/17, Neergaard). As many as have of the 5 million figure have very early stages of the disease and have many independent years ahead of them before the disease runs it course and becomes too severe for adequate cognitive function. For patients in this situation, the technology may have its greatest impact.

At some point, however, the majority of Alzheimer's patients will begin what is called wandering, at which point more intense supervision is required to ensure their safety. This is when many families decide a loved one should make the move to a 24 hour care facility.

A growing number of states are adopting "Silver Alerts" programs, modeled off the Amber Alert for missing Children, that notify the public when an Alzheimer's patient or other cognitively impaired adult wanders off. While this is useful in severe situations, many families want a more personalized solution.

So, the new Comfort Zone program goes a step further, ?with a Web-based mapping service that works with multiple brands of tracking transmitters. First out are a pocket-size transmitter and a car version, while a harder-to-remove wristwatch style and one secreted in shoes are being explored. Families can check where Dad is at any given time, or in an emergency track his movements every 2 minutes while someone heads him off.? This technology has the potential to help many families feel good about elderly loved ones and may even keep some Alzheimer?s patients at home and under family care longer.

Full post as published by Chicago Injury Lawyer Blog on November 29, 2009 (boomark / email).