GPS tracking advice
Hi. My experience was originally ordering the Mindme device as my mom went missing and was out all night. I live directly opposite and thought she'd had "an early night" when popped over. Didn't check... couldn't find her, but she returned after 28 hours dehydrated but relatively ok. Got very little advice from anyone except the usual "personal privacy" and "human rights" spiel. Pointless and irrelevant. And technically wrong as it doesn't apply to those with diminished responsibility! Got psychiatrist's backing (she's known us for 3 years) and plumped for Mindme.
Then...whilst staying with my sister, she got up and walked out in the middle of the night. My sister thought she'd locked the front door, one of her kids unlocked it to get something from the car and forgot. Easy mistake to make and one they all feel guilty about.
This time, my sister was woken by the police at 6am asking if she knew my mother and that she'd had a fall and was in hospital. It looked worse than it was due to excessive bleeding {the aspirin/warfarin can do this). She's recovering well now, and it could have been worse. Luckily my sister lives in a small, "safe" country village rather than the big city!
So.....my advice. Plan for the worst case scenario. Mindme would not have helped as my sister only realised she had gone missing AFTER her accident and AFTER being found by the police. You absolutely need to get a device with BOUNDARY ALERTS and a reasonably LONG battery life {more than the 18 hours for Mindme}.
I have asked for advice and got none, so this advice is purely my own experience. I THINK I am getting a BUDDI. I spoke to them and the battery lasts for around 2 1/2 days, has boundary alerts you can set yourself so, for example, in my mom's case, my sister would have been sent an alert text when she reached the bottom of her (small) road, got up and brought her back in minutes.
The Keruve seems too expensive (around GBP1000) but I have to say LOOKS like a nice watch that can't be removed by the wearer; so as far as jewellery, could be the best bet.
Luckily, my mom ALWAYS carries the same bag with her! So leaving the device in a pocket will work (but I will probably attach a sticker telling her NOT to take it out of her bag!
The other option could be the Track-Pod 2, which is like the others, has boundary setting, but turns itself to sleep mode when not moving. Then turns on when movement is detected, thus prolonging the battery life! Which, again, is something you need to think about: when and who will charge it and place in the person's bag?
I'm still investigating, but that's what I've found so far. Hope it helps anyone reading this. I know I could have done with something like this a few weeks ago!
Things to consider, in summary:
- Battery Life and when/who charges it up ?
- Will the wearer/carrier try to remove it and NOT take it when they wander??
- Boundary areas that let you know when the person leaves a set area, particularly during the night! Essential!
- Easy access to tracking device: mobile or computer?
What is actually needed (and there is now the technology and design ability to make these...if anyone knows of something that does the following PLEASE let me know ASAP!!!):
A small, jewellery-like device that comes with a LONG (week+?) battery life; that goes into sleep mode when not moving but turns on when movement is detected; that sends alerts if "rapid fall" or "sudden shock" movement detected; that allows users to set small, localised boundaries that alerts if wearer leaves set areas; that is relatively cheap in both initial cost and monthly rental.
I feel like going into the Dragon's Den and asking for research money to get this done NOW, no profit to be made, just a nice gesture on behalf of the Dragons
Take care,
Colin