In UK dementia numbers are set to rise from 750,000 in 2005 to 1 million by 2021 (see link below to UK Alzheimer's Society). For these people, everyday tasks and trips out of the house can become very difficult to achieve and can put individuals at risk as well as causing concern for other family members. In many instances, institutional care; whether it be respite, day or full time care becomes inevitable.
Increasingly this situation poses significant resource issues for a growing older population. There is also evidence that overall well being is more likely to be maintained if people are able to remain in their own homes but that they need to be sufficiently supported to ensure a positive outcome.
One solution would be to use electronic tagging of people with dementia, using GPS technology. This would enable people to continue to live independently yet be more easily and accurately monitored should they wander.
Electronic tagging could also be implemented in care facilities to enable residents to have more freedom of movement. Electronic monitoring may lessen the need to transfer residents to facilities of a more secure nature as their dementia progresses, thus allowing a more stable living environment for them, potentially increasing their wellbeing.
What do you think? Does this proposal create or remove autonomy for dementia sufferers?
Read more here: alzheimers.org.uk/site/scripts/documents_info.php?documentID=341
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