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Lamb232 Asked August 2021

Can a tracking device be put on a wheelchair and viewed on a computer?

I’m trying to help a friend who has Vascular Dementia, and confined to a manual wheelchair. He lives 250 miles away from me, and two months ago was found “lost” 2 miles from his apartment at 3am sitting in his wheelchair in a stranger’s front yard. He did not know where he was or lived or even who he was. He has regained some of his memory, and knows who he is. After two months in rehab, he is anxious to go back home. He has no one to look out for him except me. I am not able to make constant trips to check on him. His right side is paralyzed but he gets around quite well with the wheelchair. Once at home he will have a caregiver check on him each day, but I’m worried that he could just walk & roll some night and get lost again, or be seriously injured. Also, I don’t have smart phone, just a flip phone and a landline. I would like to be able to see where he is on my computer. Is that something that is possible to have set up? Thank you for your help.

MargaretMcKen Aug 2021
The easiest first thing to do is to put his name, address and a phone number (eg yours) stuck somewhere on his manual wheelchair. Somewhere not too obvious, so he won’t pull it off. Under the seat or under a footrest perhaps. It doesn’t solve all your needs, but it should help if he wanders again. If you are too far away, can you find someone else to do this? Explain, and then let him forget it’s there.

I’m sure that you can find a tracking device, and probably one that can be monitored from your computer. However as you are not tech savvy it may be all too hard for you to choose, install and monitor. Magic tech solutions often require a magician in charge!

Geaton777 Aug 2021
Bless you for your love and concern for your friend. You don't give much detail...his age would be helpful.

You can probably get a monitor on his wheelchair, but first of all don't know how that will happen without a smartphone. And, to be frank, it will be a lot of effort for a very temporary fix -- like peeing into a forest fire. Your energies would be better spent setting him up to be protected and represented, like having him figure out who can be his durable PoA and starting to look at what is possible for his future.

Many elders have spent a lifetime romanticizing "aging in place" in their homes. But in most cases it becomes extremely unsafe (and therefore unethical) to keep them in that arrangement when other solutions are available (imperfect, but available). He is already showing signs of cognitive/memory impairment (like his recent "lost" episode). This is only the beginning of stress-inducing occurrences. Even if you have the ability to track him (and you will need an alarm system to alert you to late night wandering) then what can you do from 250 miles away? The PD or FD may take him to the ER if he seems disoriented and then from there, if he doesn't "recover" enough he will probably be passed on to the hospital social workers who will arrange for rehab or pursue guardianship and permanently relocate him into a facility that they choose. They won't call you if he doesn't remember you or your phone number. Because this is what happens when one doesn't create a realistic plan in advance.

If he could be convinced to transition himself to an IL community that has a spectrum of care options on campus (AL, LTC, MC) then he'd be surrounded by people, have 3 meals a day, medical care, transportation options, clubs and events, and so on. Your most valuable contribution to helping him would be to get him to assign a PoA (and not you if you're not local and at least 20 years his junior), and research local care communities that he would choose for himself. Then help him make that transition. Wishing you success in speaking to your friend about what's best for his future care.
Lamb232 Aug 2021
I'm sorry that I didn't give more info, and you had to assume that not much was being done. He is 79, and I am his POA for both healthcare and financial. The rehab center seems to think that he could go to his apt. in a seniors building. His meals will be provided, and someone will be making sure he takes his meds, as well as continuing PT. They do have someone that could call for help, and he also has an emergency cord in his apt. I know this is just temporary until myself or the Medicaid people find a suitable place for him closer to my location. There is a possibility of him going to a veteran’s home/hospital if there is an opening. 
Should he wander again, I would like to be able to notify the police or fire dept. so they can pick him up and get him to safety. And I should be able to do this from 250 miles away.  The Social Workers, hospital and rehab staff and his apartment manager are all working with me so we can do what is best for him. I want him to have a say while he still can. We are all staying positive, as is he. He knows that he will need to move from his apartment and to assisted living/memory care. He trusts me as his POA, and to do what is right.  He would not be comfortable if some stranger began advising him. Everything takes time to get set up, and so far it is all falling into place without any negative upsets. I was just hoping that I could help to keep him safe until he is able to be placed.

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GardenArtist Aug 2021
My first thought was one of JoAnn's suggestions:   contact the local PD or FD and see if they have monitors.

TNtechie is a whiz in technical adaptations.  I'm P'M'ing her to see if she'll be able to offer advice.
Lamb232 Aug 2021
Thank you.
JoAnn29 Aug 2021
This man should not be sent home. Someone checking up on him is not enough. Dementia gets worse not better. I would be surprised if the Rehab releases him. To me this is an "unsafe discharge". They should not release him if its felt he needs 24/7 care and there is no one in the house who can do it. By law they can't release him.

But if they do, check with his local Police Department and see if they provide GPS monitors free of charge. If so, they can monitor him and maybe give you access too.
Lamb232 Aug 2021
Thank you. I think I will check with his local police dept. to see what they suggest, and to put him on their radar so to speak. A friend did this with her brother several years ago, but he wore a bracelet tracking device. That would be too easy to remove.

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