Looking for a GPS tracking/ID bracelet for my dad - YouLookFab Forum

Category

Off Topic

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

Looking for a GPS tracking/ID bracelet for my dad

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

My dad is very smart and very gentle. In the 70s, when friends who were doctors like him wanted him to join them in their weekly golf outings, he declined to learn to play, because he preferred to be with us. He was an eye surgeon; Mom stayed home. He was in charge of our nighttime routine, giving us little ones our baths and brushing our teeth, tucking us in with songs and stories about when he was little. It was decades before I realized this was exceptional.

Now he is losing his memory. He doesn’t read much any more, because he can’t remember enough to follow a story. We used to spend hours in the garden, with him teaching us his love of life and nurture; now a gardener comes, because that is too difficult for him.

I’d like my parents to visit us in Berlin, partially because he often forgets that we live here. Maybe visceral experiences would help him remember. We have to plan carefully—not too many steps for Mom, not too much excitement or big crowds for Dad. This would be a visit to daughter/grandson, not a take-it-all-in tour to a capital city. We might go to a concert, and because I know he still loves different tastes, I’d like to take him to my favorite market and eat our way through. But mostly it would be structured around seeing us and the spaces of our daily lives, maybe going to one one my son’s activities.

It would ease everyone’s mind if we had a way to find him if he accidentally is separated from us and can’t find his way back. There are classic metal bracelets, which we could have engraved with my contact info and his medical needs. There are also watches/bracelets that let you track a person on GPS, https://famisafe.wondershare.c.....celet.html which has the huge advantage of letting us find him instead of waiting for someone to contact us. I’d want the same info on it, and it would probably be best if he couldn’t take it off. Can you help by sharing your experiences with this kind of device?

This post has 6 photos. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

Off Topic

23 replies

Latest reply was from Locked

texasgal

Not sure what your finances are but maybe an Apple watch with cellular connection? Has GPS, Find My Phone, ability to record/send an EKG, and will even alert EMTs in case of a fall (this is all based on my US experience so see what is the case in your area). Plus you can receive/send text messages and phone calls over 4G network. And- it's a great watch and activity tracker.

Joyce B

Veteran

I have no recommendations about bracelets, just here to say that your dear Dad sounds like a very special person. Your post is a lovely read.
I hope you will sort the bracelet part so that you can all enjoy being together.
What a great market you are showing in the pictures.

kkards

Veteran

seconding the idea of an apple watch or someother sort of wearable tech.....and yes, he may take what ever you get him off, so i'd also sew /pin tags with his name and your data into his clothing....

but before you even get to that point....is your dad ok with having his routine changed? i know that a friend of your family who had dementia became so agitated with a small car trip that they had to turn around....

https://dailycaring.com/6-ways.....will-work/

https://www.seniorlifestyle.co.....r-seniors/

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Thank you all for replying so fast!

Texasgal, my guess is that the devices in the link have only the tech that’s necessary. I should perhaps have mentioned that he rarely emails or texts us, because sorting through the tech required is too difficult. Can your Apple Watch be set up to only show a couple things, so it isn’t confusing or overwhelming?

Kkards, yes, wearable tech is the general idea. The link in my question has devices for kids and seniors. I’m hoping that someone here will have experience with one or more of these devices and be able to recommend make & model. Your story about someone who couldn’t deal with a day trip is frightening and sad. Right now, he and mom still go back and forth between two homes during the year. I think he’s ok during that transition, but am sure you are correct that the day is coming that he won’t be. If he will be able to come at all, we should make it ASAP. Your links will be helpful in discussions with my mom, who is generally unwilling to share any info about what’s going on with them and will likely prefer to stonewall rather than discuss specifics and plan for how to deal with them.

Joyce B, thank you! He was a very caring father—now it’s time for us to care for him.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I'm with Joyce B. I liked this tribute to your lovely Dad. It warmed my heart. I REALLY hope your parents visit. That would be very special, and the way you're thinking about planning it sounds spot on.

I can't offer ID bracelet solutions - but what a great idea! My own 88 year old Dad has dementia and a big short term memory challenge. He does not wear an ID bracelet, but does not go anywhere new unchaperoned.

Anonymous

Check out

https://www.roadid.com/ . I wear a bracelet because I have a medical issue, but we got one for my FIL who suffered from dementia.

rachylou

Veteran

No experience... but! my brother got us key trackers and they’re almost useless unless you’re inside your own house. They’re passive with no battery of their own worth mentioning and crowdsourced for outside your own WiFi... so lots of other people have to be around running the same app... So... there are things to think through:

Battery life - I’m thinking it (the tracker) should put out a signal
Global, multinational tracking (and I’m guessing there are few devices with this ability) (and if that’s not really available, you would want something that works in Germany specifically)
Whether or not it’s a subscription service (probably needs to be)
Simplicity - I think it should only have one function, your dad I doubt would use it for more than to see the time
Interface for YOU to see where your dad is

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Angie, I admit I get a lump in my throat whenever you talk about your parents--the relationship you & your mom had, as well as your visits with your dad now. Thanks for the good wishes!

danusia, thank you so much! A personal rec is so helpful. I assume the one you got for your FiL had your husband's contact info? I like the little sidekicks that attach to a device. That way the contact info would be visible immediately if he needed help, and wouldn't get in the way of him telling time.

RL, good list of requirements! There were a couple on that list with ability to call/send texts in addition to the time & location features. I should look into how complicated those are to actually use.

rachylou

Veteran

My dad was a FORTRAN programmer back in the day and he really could only press the 1 button on his giant cell phone to call me and only me. And my mom, who had email before there was a WWW and is whip sharp and who can only be reached by text, still... the modern icons mean mean nothing to her. I mean, she can’t figure out the window icon on the car. I regularly go and rearrange her device icons, after she’s accidentally moved them, because she knows them primarily by location on the screen. Older people have a completely different visual vocabulary. When it comes to ease of use, that’s something to check out as well as the dexterity needed.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

RL, yep, I know what you mean about the visual vocab. I'm looking for a remote for them for Christmas. Even the very simple ones have keys that I think will be hard for them to understand.

Sal

Veteran

That is a lovely post and I can relate to your dilemma.

My MIL had a tracking device that gave out alerts when she was X metres away from her home. One funny time my BIL got an alert that Nana was escaping at 80km an hour (not realising Jon was taking her for a drive). It worked well and I think was hired/rented.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Thanks Sal. That’s a great reply in so many ways I don’t know what button to push. I know our iPhones let us set up reminders when we arrive at or leave (our choice) a given location. We’ll have to pick our brains re setting up one of these cheaper ones to do that—or spring for the big fancy Apple Watch & strip it of most apps.

Thanks for the funny story around a sad topic!

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

I've had several RoadIDs for when I go out walking/running or athletic events; they're a great company and I like their stuff. They do have an option where you share your medical/contact info with them and they store it somewhere so that emergency personnel can call and get it, but I've just bought the bracelets themselves so I can't tell you any more than that. They are in the US though so it might not work as well in Europe. I can't help much with the higher-tech options, although you could look into a wristband GPS like a Garmin. I know that runners, bicyclists, rock climbers etc. use them and you can set them up to share your location with friends somehow.

elpgal

Veteran

You have a great dad!
I don’t know about phone services in Germany but I recommend looking at wearables for kids. Some of them like have very simple fictionality like GPS and designated buttons for calling.

https://www.wareable.com/weara.....s-trackers

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Elpgal, yep, that’s the sort of thing I’m hoping people can give recommendations of. Is there a specific one you like?

Glory

Veteran

I'm wondering if the Tile Mate might work for this. I haven't looked at it in detail but I know people who use it to locate phones, wallets, luggage etc. Here is a link to one:

https://www.costco.ca/Tile-Mat.....83959.html

Joy

Veteran

What we find helpful is the I-phone share your location feature. It comes in handy and you only share it with those you want to. If our son In Japan is out diving or on a hiking-camping trip, we can see where he is and if he is back home yet.
My husband could sweet me home from a nighttime meeting when I was lost and headed to Wyoming. You can easily turn off the sharing whenever you want.

elpgal

Veteran

The Gizmo is what all the tweens in our school use.

greycat6

Veteran

Right there with you, Fashintern, on coping with aging parents while maintaining their dignity. My parents are slipping though unwilling to admit the struggles because they don't want to burden their three children who all live out of state. Fortunately for us, they still have each other. We have had to be very thoughtful about how we approach our growing concerns for them. Here are some things that have worked for us.

We got my dad an ID tag that is worn on his shoe, woven through the shoelaces, with the critical information including our contact info. He was very reluctant to wear it but once he realized how unobtrusive it is, he agreed. He doesn't even realize it is there because it is unobtrusive but still recognizable to someone who looks for it.

My parents live in a remote part of the US where cell service is spotty at best. Even with this issue, we have had good success with the Find Friends Apple app WHEN they remember to carry their phones which doesn't always happen. The Tile Mates are a good back up. Tile Mates can be put in a wallet or handbag which, at least for them, is less likely to be forgotten.

We have found that incorporating something into their existing lifestyle is much easier than asking them to adopt a new technology.

I will be following this thread in hopes of gaining more wisdom from those who have gone through similar things. Good luck to you.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Greycat and Glory, I gave them Tiles a few years ago. The trouble with those is that they rely on crowd sourced signals--they will connect to other peoples devices, and rely on them to send out the signal. Fine if he's in a crowd, or even in a store, but if he's out driving around and doesn't get out of the car, there is no signal.

Greycat, wishing you and your parents all the best. It is hard to be so far away! Now that you mention it, I've seen the little labels in the laces. Thanks for bringing that up.

Elpgal, I'll check out the Gizmo. Thanks!

Joy, we've installed various tracking apps and use Find My Phone on his phone. The problem is that those occasionally get changed somehow and then have to be set up again. Often the only thing needed is logging back in, but if it isn't done, the app won't work--and we might not realize it until we need it.

Joy

Veteran

My dad would have thrown away any tracking device or disabled it ASAP.
One gets notifications when the ap on your phone is used. It is easy to disable it.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Joy, that's why I'm thinking of getting him a watch in which the tracker is the added feature! I doubt he'd throw away a watch, and if he was able to disable a tracking device, we probably wouldn't need one. I'm not sure what you're saying about the phone app. Besides the problem of the apps occasionally getting disabled through no action on his part, there's also the worry that he'd lose it, because a phone isn't strapped onto you the way a watch is.

Locked

So did you find any good bracelet?