‘Tracking save lives ... I’d be delighted to have that done’
AUTHOR SPEAKS CANDIDLY ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF
In Japan, adding barcodes to the thumbnail and toenails of elderly people with dementia which has a record of the patient’s name, address, phone number, and who to contact in case they’re found disorientated.
Professor Andrews said: “I’ve signed over my power of attorney to my daughter and I’ve said to her, when the time comes, put a subcutaneous tracker in.
“I would be delighted for her to do that.
“A huge amount of family anxiety is caused when someone goes missing, to the person and the family.
“A huge amount of police money is spent on it and in many ways it’s actually wasted time.
“We know there’s a news story that says, old people are being tagged like criminals.
“The general, sensible response to that is, actually it’s better than being hunted like a dog.
“They used to be very ostentatious and stigmatising. At one point they were just devices which worked in your house but now you can be found, even if you have left the country.
“As they are getting smaller, the batteries last longer.
“The chip is available in other countries but not here, however there is a prototype.”
Many UK local authorities have telecare systems and communitybased alarm services with staff who respond to alarms.
A pilot project has also been launched by Police Scotland in the Inverurie area in which family members and care providers gather vital information for use should their loved one go missing in the future.
In addition to the usual checks of family members, last sightings, hospitals, police also look at the list of the places held on file that the person may be attempting to re-vist.
This part of the pilot is virtually identical to a national pilot scheme which is also being introduced in other areas including Greater Glasgow and West Dunbartonshire divisions.
Police said that in the last year, they have details of 20 people in our file and had been required to use the file to assist return people to their homes around a dozen times in the last year.
Professor Andrews said: “The first time that someone goes missing there is actually a lot you can do.
“What relatives can do should do is start taking a photo of their loved one every day or at least a recent one.
“Either hire or buy outright or ask the local authority, or ask the police if they are able to provide a tracker device.
“The devices can also alert you if the person stops moving for a long time. You can have a movement sensor into it. If someone bumps into something or falls over, it alerts you.
“They are getting more and more sophisticated.”