People With Dementia To Be Fitted With Gps Tracking Devices,

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2317963/Barbaric-No-electronic-tags-godsend-Alzheimers-sufferers--carers.html

Is the fitting of electronic tags on dementia sufferers a good idea or is it barbaric?

[Sparkles62]

Pmsl at Ed.
I have vision of the tag monitoring centre calling to say 'its ok, wev'e found her she's by the duck pond, no hang on, she's up a tree' lol

[mikey4444]

I'm not sure how this can be barbaric ? When did caring for dementia patients become barbaric !

[RATTER15]

I certainly think they are a great idea as long as the people concerned have the "choice" to wear one.

Where I have worked, we have had problems using pressure mats in the home, these look pretty much like ordinary mats and would be placed beside a bed or outside a bedroom during the night, if some one stood on the mat it would alert care staff to the fact that they had got out of bed (risk of falling) or left their bedroom, (danger to themselves and others) we often had legal battles to have the right to use these, we often were not successful even though these people were at great risk of harming themselves or others.

[Sparkles62]

My friend used to have her Mum living with her as she had Dementia,
She used to lock the front and back doors and hide the keys,
One day whilst baking she had a phone call to say that her mum was at the local shops dressed in a blouse and pair of tights ( no underwear or shoes), she had climbed out of the window while she wasn't looking!!

[woofgang]

RATTER, was it relis who didn't want the pressure mats used? I used to deal mainly with people who lived at home, either alone and carefully supported or with relis. I had many situations where the reli wanted to do something unpleasant or dangerous to "keep them safe" It was usually to lock them in a room or tie them into the chair or bed.

[RATTER15]

Woofgang, yes often it was relatives but also CQC would often put up objections. Their argument would be that we needed to have more staff to monitor these residents, this would have meant employing one person to observe just one residents room all night, never practical.

[ludwig]

I can't see how anyone could possibly object. It's obviously a good idea.

[woofgang]

not only impractical but not so nice for the sufferer either...imagine never being left alone, no privacy ever not even in bed.

[youngmafbog]

It's an excellent idea.

Having seen first hand what Alzheimers does I cannot see why someone would not appreciate this.

Sufferers are unable to make any decisions so it would need to be confirmed up front; if possible. However most patients end up with the Power of Attorney so the relatives would have to make the call.

It is a terrible disease and puts immense pressure on the family.

[RATTER15]

youngmafbog //Sufferers are unable to make any decisions so it would need to be confirmed up front;//

They very often can make decisions for themselves, I worked with severe dementia sufferers and quite a few of these would definitely have been able to say yes or no.

[naomi24]

Ratter, but do they actually understand why the question is being asked? I've known many who wouldn't - but they'd give an answer anyway. Yes, it's an excellent idea.

[woofgang]

naomi, there is an art to framing the question so that it can be understood where possible. and no (not aimed at you N) I don't mean leading the person to give the answer that you want.

[naomi24]

Woofgang, 'where possible' being the operative term.

[woofgang]

where its not possible then whoever is responsible for the person decides.

[naomi24]

I know.

[cazzz1975]

a great idea

[Sharingan]

In mild dementia with their permission, in very severe dementia as a matter of course and in a stage of dementia in between with every effort to be with the patients permission and if that permission is witheld then a decision would need to be made in consultation with the person concerned, the family, nursing or care staff and an independent Dr.

[RATTER15]

Naomi, in some cases they would have no idea what you were talking about but others while severely demented are still able to make "informed" decisions about their care etc. It really depends how the dementia has effected the person concerned.

[woofgang]

Naomi, I am not sure what your point is?

[boxtops]

brilliant idea