How people with dementia achieved their dream to roam freely in remote, rural Scottish Highlands

David Mason, Andrew Pascoe, Ian Sherriff, Hilary Cragg, Ann Pascoe

A key issue that the East Sutherland Dementia Friendly Community initiative (DFC) has grappled with, has been who has the right to decide when a person with dementia (and

particularly when it is later on in the dementia journey) may wear a GPS tracker

A number of issues come into play:• Peoplewithdementia(particularlyinruralareas)wantfreedomtoroam

• Dementiafamilies(particularlycarers)needtheassuranceandpeaceof

mind that the people they are caring for, can be found if they lose their

way while roaming

• SearchandrescueorganisationsgenerallysupporttheuseofGPStrackers

toassistinthetaskoffindingpeoplewithdementiawhomightgetlost

and need to be found by emergency services

• Riskaversionisacontributingfactortopeoplewithdementianotbeing

able to roam as they wish

DFC’s Technology Task Group (informed by people affected by dementia) undertook a four month trial using a GPS Tracker system called BOB: • DFCworkedcloselywiththePrimeMinister’sRuralTaskandFinishGroup

based in Plymouth, England.

• Ethics’issuesexplored.

• OstrichCaresupplied2GPStrackingdevicesfreeofchargetotwofamilies

affected by dementia and living in the north eastern Scottish Highlands

• TheNHSmonitoringcentretookdetailedinformationaboutroaming

habits, usual places visited, medication etc and 3 carer contacts were

appointed

• Weeklydiarieskeptforevaluationpurposes

• Dementiafamiliesintentionallydeployedtooutlandishplacestotestthe

devices: TheNHSmonitoringcentre found them every time

• EmergencybuttonactivatedandtheNHSmonitoringcentre successfully

initiated emergency procedure

KeyResults• Onepersonwithdementiadidnothaveinsightenoughto understand his wife’s worry when he was gone for hours on end: knowingshecanfindhimifrequired,shenolongerpanics when he is not home at an appointed time.• Theotherpersonwithdementiawhohadbeentooafraidto go out alone now feels secure enough to go anywhere without his wife with the result that his independence and increased sense of well-being has given him a new lease on life.• Semanticsareimportanti.e.peopledon’twanttobetagged, they want freedom to roam.

A Social Enterprise for the Scottish Highlands and beyond

‘A lot of people think that using a GPS tracker is like tagging prisoners. That’s a lotofnonsense.Wecanswitchitonandoff when we feel like it, which prisoners can’t do!’ - David Mason

‘I can now also live a life because my husband is no longer fearful of going out alone’ - Maureen Mason

Page 10 of 10

‘If people with dementia do use tracking devices they should be aware that their use is for their own safety and not to check up on them. It is also key that carers adhere to this’ - Hilary Cragg, Solicitor

‘I have complete peace of mind, knowing I canalwaysfindmy

husband’ - Ann Pascoe

‘I can now roam the Highland hills to do my

photography’ - Andrew Pascoe

First Contact: Kerinda Bhogal, Vivky Fane and Linda Alsop - Ostrich Virtuall PA’s

Founder/CEO of Ostrich Care - Part of the Ostrich Group - Laurence Kelly

Page 9 of 10

ContactDFC: ann@dementia-friendly.com Ostrich Care: julie@ostrichcare.co.uk www.adementiafriendlycommunity.com