Improving provision of GPS location technologies and technical support for people with dementia and their family carers

Dr Ruth Bartlett

The Prime Minister’s Challenge on Dementia 2020 Implementation Plan aims to make England, by 2020, the best country in the world for dementia care, support, research and awareness.

A key objective is to enhance the quality of life for citizens with dementia living at home, which involves the police, as well as care services.

Research at the University of Southampton shows that the use of GPS ‘location’ technologies enables a person with a dementia to get and out about independently and increases social contact.

GPS ‘location’ technologies also provide potentially valuable data on a person’s walking activities and whereabouts, which family carers and the police can use in an emergency.

Other relevant news

Find out more