Dementia is a disease that affects the functioning of the brain, resulting in a gradual deterioration of memory, thinking, problem-solving and verbal communication skills. In Taiwan, the prevalence of dementia is increasing with the aging of the population, and according to statistics, there are currently about 300,000 dementia patients. The disease not only affects patients physically, but also brings economic and social challenges, such as increasing the pressure on family care and the burden on social resources.
The recent social incident of "a 103-year-old man with dementia lying curled up to avoid the cold" shows the importance of care for the elderly with dementia in the Taiwanese community. In order to reduce the number of lost dementia cases, the first step is to increase the community's knowledge and understanding of dementia, and to build up a mutual support network in the neighborhood. Secondly, the education and training of family members and caregivers should be strengthened to provide them with more support and resources. In addition, the use of assistive technology products and tracking devices should be utilized for timely recovery of the lost elderly.
When lost elders go out on their own, wearing a personal satellite locator can help tracking and searching, know the location of elders, as well as emergency call for help function. The lost person carries the personal satellite locator with him, so that the way home is no longer far away.
According to the regulations of the Social and Family Department of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, personal satellite locators have been included in the subsidy program for the physically and mentally challenged. The purpose of this subsidy is to prevent people with dementia, mental retardation, chronic mental illness or autism from becoming lost. Those who are eligible may apply to the county or city government in which they are domiciled to purchase a personal satellite locator and receive up to $9,000 in subsidies.
I. Functional specification of personal satellite locator:
Personal satellite locator is a tracking device designed for lost people, its specifications must have, AGPS satellite positioning, location inquiry service, battery standby over 72 hours, emergency call for help function, call function.
Second, the benefits of a personal satellite locator:
As long as the user wears a satellite locator (currently there are models such as watches, cell phones, BB call, keys, etc., depending on the preference of the elderly), the lost person can be found instantly through the remote positioning system.
Eligibility:
1. Dementia patients who are in danger of getting lost. Personalized GPS can be purchased at your own expense from the manufacturer of Personalized GPS.
2. Those who have a physical or mental disability (dementia, mental retardation, chronic mental illness or autism), are at risk of getting lost, and have the ability to go out on their own may apply for a subsidy for the purchase of a personal satellite locator for the physically and mentally challenged.
IV. Amount of subsidy:
1、Low-income household subsidy $9,000
2. Subsidy for low and middle income households $6,750
3. General Household Supplement $4,500
V. Application process:
1. Application: Go to the Long-Term Care Management Center (or Assistive Devices Center) to submit an application for assessment of assistive devices.
2、Assistive Devices Evaluation：Assistive Devices Center Evaluation and Opening of Evaluation Proposals
3、Application Approval: Bring the evaluation proposal and proof of physical and mental disabilities to the municipal office in each township for examination.
4. Issuance of an approval letter (approval of the amount of the grant).
5、Assistive device purchase: Bring the approved official document to find the manufacturer and purchase the GPS locator.
6、Application for subsidy: Bring the invoice and the warranty to the local township office to apply for the subsidy.
VI. The consultation pipeline is as follows:
1、Consultation can be made directly to the Physical and Mental Disability Welfare Section of the Social Affairs Bureau of your county or city government.
2. Contact the Multifunctional Aids Resource Integration and Promotion Center of the Ministry of the Interior (Tel: 02-28743415).
3. Visit a long-term care management center (or assistive device center) for consultation.
In the face of the challenge of dementia elders, Taiwan society needs more understanding, support and innovative care methods. In addition to personal satellite locators, there are other ways to prevent loss, such as love bracelets, love cloth labels (made in the form of QR codes, which can be sewn into clothes, bags or hats worn by seniors to facilitate identification and assistance from the police or passersby), and fingerprint imprinting (which requires that the person suffering from dementia go to the police station in person to have their fingerprints imprinted, and if the person is unwilling to do so, a family member can do it on behalf of the person at an event). (If the patient is unwilling to go to the police station, his/her family can take his/her place during the activity).
Caring for the elderly with dementia is a long-term journey. With the help of technological aids and effective methods, both the caregiver and the elderly can receive good quality of care, reduce unnecessary injuries, and also reduce the caregiver's stress of caring.
Source:
