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Last updated 11:43 am CT September 02, 2010.
Technology That Could Prevent Future Tragedies
"You never know when they're just gonna wander off from familiar surroundings, for example grandpa may get up in the middle of the night and think he's going to the bathroom and walk out the front door and he's gone," said Mike Chylewski, Senior Vice President of Worldwide Operations at Care Trak.
The patient wears a transmitter bracelet 24/7, and if they go missing police immediately use the Care Trak to find them. Unfortunately a search for a missing dementia patient often ends in tragedy. This week 82 year old Wendell Hilliard from Williamson County was found dead after he wandered away from home and spent several hours in the cold. Chylewski says the longer the search goes on, the more likely it will end in heartbreak.
"The survival rate if someone's not found within 24 hours is 47 percent," said Chylewski.
Chylewski says the transmitter allows alzheimer's patients to live in their own home, something Hilliard wanted to do, but it may just help prevent a tragedy.
"It's really great when the police department can bring the person back and say here he is, we found him, it's ok," said Chylewski.
Care Trak is available in several southern Illinois counties, if you'd like to use it for a loved one you're encouraged to contact your local sheriff's department.
By Ryan Kruger
rkruger@wsiltv.com
Now: 1283451008
