Hello I am new to the forum and hope that someone can advise on ways to help my 86 year old father continue to live at home. He recently had his driving license revoked and has started walking. he will walk for miles not realising he has to get home. I live 4 hours away so it is very worrying, he has got lost and fortunately some kind person has taken him home. does anyone know of a suitable tracking devise or some other way of helping him get home. he does not have a mobile phone. Thank you for any help or advice.
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- Thread starter S J
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I have this issue with my OH and have spent quite a bit of time trying to sort this. I haven’t found anything perfect despite some of the claims. I have ended up with a ring doorbell that ‘clocks him in and out’ so I know when he’s out and if he’s not back 15 minutes later I know there’s a problem. I have also got him an apple watch with a contract so that if he’s not back when he should be I can ring him on the watch - I can also use this in the ‘find my’ function in my phone so I know if he’s veered off course.
This works for us most of the time but it’s time consuming and quite stressful when I’m checking constantly whilst I’m out. It may not work for you as you’re not close by. If you decide on this, just be aware that it needs a certain level of both iPhone and watch. It’s hard to believe that there isn’t something specifically for this as it could keep many people safe and at home for longer. I did email the BBC technical programme to suggest they look into it but no response.
Thank you for your reply, i had thought about an apple watch but wondered if there was anything else out there.
Knowing where he is won't stop him getting lost, run over or taken advantage of by a scammer.
If your father is wandering like this it's time to get him more supervision or consider a care home. This is probably not what you want to hear but honestly, wandering (especially in winter) is never going to end well.
If your father is wandering like this it's time to get him more supervision or consider a care home. This is probably not what you want to hear but honestly, wandering (especially in winter) is never going to end well.
Thank you for your reply, you have voiced my worries. He is adamant he does not need more help or to be in a care home. That is going to be my next hurdle
If he carries a phone thats the best thing - trackable, contactable. I tried a tracker watch first which on paper sounds ideal - has notifications if they go beyond your set boundary but it never worked, the GPS on it wasn’t suitable. This is marketed as a tracker for dementia but really didn’t work. There is some suggestion that the council buttton alerts can do it, our social worker said it did but then checked and it doesn’t. It’s sad in this day and age that there isn’t something specifically for this that actually works.
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