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PRODUCTS
Alzheimer's & Dementia
Bathroom
Bedroom
Kitchen & Dining
Living Room - Any Room
Outdoors - Wandering
Expert Review – Wandering - Short Distance Tracking Unit



Ion Kids Caregiver Locator Unit




Tag Holder




Location Indicator


MANUFACTURER
Bluespan, Inc.
COST
$240 plus $10 for Tagholder

Batteries: Rechargeable (included)
VENDORS
Bluespan, Inc.
DISCLAIMER
The listing of these products is for informational purposes and individuals must use their own caution and judgment when using these resources. Functional levels and changes in judgment and reasoning are highly variable in people with dementia. Interventions must be individualized and continually assessed because those that are effective for some individuals may only work briefly and may not work at all for others.
DESCRIPTION
The IonKids system, created for use with children, is designed to monitor and locate a person within a range between 200 feet (indoors) and 350 feet (outdoors). The device consists of two rechargeable battery powered units: a caregiver base unit and a watch-style wristag unit. Using the base unit, you can locate the person wearing the wristag within the range indicated. The base unit is a little larger than a standard cell phone and the wristag is about the size of a large digital watch. (The technology module in the wristag can be removed, inserted into what they call a tag holder, and carried in a purse or pocket.) The system functions on a wireless radio frequency and is therefore not dependent on GPS or cell phone towers, as many location devices are.
PROS
Does not rely on cell phone towers or GPS, which are not always available

Useful when it worked, but unreliable.
CONS
The device did not function in more than half of our tests - both indoors and outdoors.

When trying to find someone, the base unit does not display distance (e.g., 50 feet), but only the direction in which the person is located.

We found it hard to know which direction to go when testing this unit as the indicators are not arrows but revolving checkmarks (see photo) and shaded boxes. The check marks and shaded boxes, even when indicating the direction correctly, disappears and reappears, making the unit difficult to use.

The base must be “re-linked” to the wristag unit every time it is powered on. If you forget, the device won’t work - and it’s easy to forget.

The wristag is too small for adults and directions for removing the technology module and inserting it into an alternative tag holder are not included in the instructions. We had to call the 800 support number to be told to look on the company’s website for the instructions. (Click on “Support” and scroll down to “Technology Module Replacement.”)

When the person wearing the wristag goes beyond the preset range, the alarm beeps both on the wristag and on the base unit. There is no silent or vibrate mode available.

When the alarm beeps, indicating the person is beyond the preset range, both the base unit and the wristag unit beep; this could be upsetting for persons with dementia, especially if they do not understand what the device is or how it works.
CAUTION
This product is not reliable. We're reporting on this device because it is now advertised and promoted for helping locate persons with Alzheimer's and it may be helpful in some limited situations, when it works. There are major drawbacks that need to be ironed out before this technology can be relied on.

How well any intervention works depends on a lot of things, including the person’s temperament, the stage of the disease, their environment, and, of course, the product or strategy employed. Since no single strategy will work in all situations, try several to see which ones work best for your situation. Combine several strategies for extra safety, like ID bracelets and some kind of monitoring device, along with appropriate supervision.

Product Selection Criteria

Our goal is to teach you how to be a good consumer and to help you learn about specific products and unique product features that may enhance your safety and the safety and function of the person with dementia. The products shown in This Caring Home serve as examples only. Manufacturers continually change product specifications and the products represented may be different from those now on the market.

We realize this is not an all-inclusive list. Products featured in This Caring Home were chosen for one or more of the following reasons:
  • Affordability
  • Attractiveness
  • Availability
  • Color selection
  • Ease of use
  • Quality
  • Safety
We encourage you to discuss product selection with other caregivers and health care professionals.


How We Tested

"ThisCaringHome.org tested many products that are commonly recommended for best practices to identify the best use of these products and any potential problems in their use by caregivers and individuals with dementia. Each product included in an Expert Review was tested in a home environment, either an apartment or a single family home (or both), by at least two people. Rosemary Bakker, interior designer, gerontologist and dementia specialist, was one of the testers for every product. Whenever possible, we tested the product over time, sometimes days, weeks, or months, for:
  • Ease of use
  • Reliability
  • Potential safety issues
As a result of our testing, we're listing the pros and cons for using these products and including safety precautions for various products. These products were not tested by persons with dementia. We hope in the future to do case studies to learn more about what works and what doesn't work in a larger variety of caregiving situations and home environments."

Products listed on our website but not tested by ThisCaringHome.org are referred to as "Product Listings".


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