UK police trial high-tech wristbands to keep dementia patients safe

A police force in the UK is using Bluetooth tracking wristbands for people with dementia in a high-tech bid to keep them safe.  

Starting this month, Avon and Somerset Police will start giving out Bluetooth wristbands for free to families. It’s part of a broader initiative to protect dementia patients, who often suffer from extreme memory loss and confusion as a result of the incurable condition.

The wristbands are fitted with Tile, a popular tracking device similar to the Apple Airtag. Once the tag is attached to a patient, caregivers can track their location via a smartphone app. If the person strays too far, the app sends out an alert.  

The Tile tags’ Bluetooth range is typically limited to a few hundred metres. However, the device can make a virtual “handshake” with other smartphones running the Tile app, to create a crowdsourced tracking network. Life360, the US firm that makes Tile, claims over 76 million people use its app globally.  

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Dementia is a growing problem globally, with over 55 million people currently living with the condition, according to the World Health Organisation. 

The scheme was launched by Inspector Stuart King in 2015, following a rise in missing person incidents involving people living with the disease. 

“The introduction of Bluetooth-enabled devices from Life360 and Tile is a significant step forward in safeguarding those living with dementia,” said Inspector King. 

“These discreet and user-friendly devices not only offer reassurance to families but can be a critical tool in emergencies, enabling quick response and timely assistance,” he said. 

 Tile also incorporates QR code functionality. When the QR code on the back of the device is scanned, it allows the next of kin or carer to be contacted directly via phone or text.  

Unlike GPS devices which need regular charging, the battery on the Bluetooth wristbands should last for about three years.

The initiative comes amid a boom in health tech, as startups develop high-tech solutions everything from machines that help detect cancer to algorithms that fastrack the discovery of new drugs.