using gps technology to promote inclusion for people ... · using gps technology to promote...

Using GPS technology to

promote inclusion for people

living with dementia. Presented by Helena Cromb

Alzheimer’s Australia WA

1

Key objectives

• Importance of social inclusion for people

living with dementia

• Development and use of GPS technology

to support social inclusion

• Future possibilities

2 Alzheimer’s Australia WA | Safe2Walk | 15.05.2013

Facts about being lost…

50% of people who are lost for more than 12 hours are

found seriously injured or dead

A police search can cost up to $300,000+ when looking for

a missing person

Up to 40% of people with dementia will become lost at

some time

Becoming lost can lead to premature admission into

residential care facilities

Major stress for carers when their loved one is lost


How do we support people

living with dementia (PLWD)?

• Promote safe walking and social inclusion within the

community

• Provide peace of mind to carers/family members

• Promote independence and physical and emotional wellbeing

• Delay early admission into residential care facility

• Locate PLWD when they become lost and reduce cost to the

community

GPS technology


Social inclusion

5

• Provides a sense of well being

• Enables quality of life as humans are social

beings

• Promotes participation and meaningful roles

within community, family and others

Alzheimer’s Australia WA | Safe2Walk | 15.05.2013

How does GPS technology

promote social inclusion?

• Confidence

• Autonomy

• Independence

• Quality of life


Safe2Walk development

• Commenced 2007

• Reviewed existing devices and services

around the world

• Formed partnership with WA based GPS

company

• Commenced development of dementia

specialist device and web based interface

• Launched service in WA in March 2009,

Sydney Sept 2009, Victoria in 2010


The following barriers were identified during the pilot study:

• Complexity: Requires simple one button function

• Cost: Needs to be affordable

• Reliability: To reduce stress for carers

• Awareness: Unaware of GPS technology or didn’t

have time to search for GPS technology

Overcoming Barriers


Promoting social inclusion

Utilising GPS technology such as the Safe2Walk device has shown

to provide independence and freedom for many people living with

dementia to walk autonomously and enjoy activities within the

community.

Case study examples on how Safe2Walk assists with promoting

social inclusion:

• Benjamin

• Anne

The Safe2Walk also enables these people to stay home for longer

delaying/ avoiding admission into residential care facilities.


• Consent is required by PLWD if possible

• Use to maintain independence and promote social

inclusion not to retrieve person

• Can the device be adequately

supported by PLWD/carer/family

members

• What are the alternatives?

Is the Safe2Walk the right

device for PLWD?


How Safe2Walk® works

Up to 6 satellites fix

position of device

Device and satellite

communicate

at set intervals or on

request

Device sends location

data to service

provider via GPRS Position/location is sent via

internet or SMS to carer


Features of the Safe2Walk® service

• Personal alert/mobile phone/GPS location service all in one device

• Accurate within 20 metres

• Easy log in web based system

• Set up safe walking boundary feature

• Location through website or sms

• Low cost $12.50 per week

• Minimum 6 month lease period

• One minute reporting


Features of the Safe2Walk® device

• “Normal” mobile phone appearance

• One touch button call function

• Auto answer & hang up

• Vibrate and ring

• Holds up to 3 pre-programmed phone numbers

• Between 16-24 hour battery life

• Features based on research

13

14

www.safe2walk.com.au

16

Alzheimer’s Australia WA | Safe2Walk | 15.05.2013

Future directions for Safe2Walk

• Safe2Walk has been running for 3 years with positive effects

• Increase marketing of service

• Securing funding to expand service to other Australian states


“To all of us who will have dementia, in the hope that we will be able to walk outside

and feel the rain on our faces.” Mary Marshall and Kate Allen (2006)


For more information on

Safe2Walk visit

Helena Cromb (Senior Enabling Environment)

[email protected]

Safe2Walk website: www.safe2walk.com.au

Email: [email protected]

GPS Ethics:

http://alzheimers.org.uk/site/scripts/documents_info.php?doc

umentID=579


mailto:[email protected]

http://www.safe2walk.com.au/

mailto:[email protected]

http://alzheimers.org.uk/site/scripts/documents_info.php?documentID=579




using gps technology to promote inclusion for people ... · using gps technology to promote...

Documents