Safe walking technologies for people with mild to moderate cognitive impairments

There are many new devices and systems now available to help manage the risk of an individual becoming lost or disoriented when out walking, especially at night. Many use radio devices carried by, or worn by, users that communicate with receivers carried by carers. They generate alerts when the user goes out of range. Other intelligent devices are based on virtual sensors that monitor exits and generate alarms through a telecare system if the person leaves the property at an unsafe time and fail to return within a reasonable period. This approach is particularly useful when used in conjunction with a GPS location device carried by the individual. The latest technologies, which can be integrated into mobile phones, PDAs, wrist watches or key fobs, include a geofencing option that raises an alarm if the individual moves outside a defined zone of safety. The success of these technologies depends on a full assessment of the individual and their support mechanisms in order to determine the management of the devices and their batteries.