A novel system of electronic tagging in patients with dementia and wandering

Wandering is a common problem in people with dementia. Current methods of physical or chemical restraint have serious adverse effects. Previous attempts at electronic tagging have been unsuccessful because of inadequacy of the technology.

This study tested equipment, derived from prisoner tagging systems, in three different scenarios: for 4 weeks in two wards at a large teaching hospital, 6 months in a medium sized residential home and 8 weeks in clients' own homes in the community. In the hospital setting five clients, in the residential home four clients and in the community three clients wore an electronic bracelet for the duration of the study.

The system proved very reliable and two incidences of external wandering were successfully detected. Compliance was excellent. Ethical issues regarding the tagging of confused elderly people were raised by professional organisations but were not considered a contra-indication by the relatives, clients and staff.