GPS enabled shoes for “wandering seniors”

By Dr. Ananya Mandal, MDOct 30 2011

Now there are shoes with integrated GPS devices to help track down dementia-suffering seniors who wander off and get lost. This comes from manufacturer GTX Corp. Other devices such as bracelets or pendants can provide similar protection but seniors often reject these.

These shoes were first thought of in 2002 following the Elizabeth Smart case. They were initially intended to locate missing children. And safety is the driving force today behind the company's newest GPS-enabled shoe. The shoes will sell at around $300 a pair and buyers will be able to set up a monitoring service to locate “wandering” seniors suffering from Alzheimer's disease. The system is implanted in the heel of an otherwise normal shoe, and lets caregivers or family members monitor the wearer and even set up alerts if a person strays outside of a predefined area.

The shoes were certified by the Federal Communications Commission this year. GTX believes the market has great potential, given the soaring costs of Alzheimer's. “This is a significant milestone for both companies and while the $604 billion worldwide cost of dementia has become and will continue to be a significant fiscal challenge, the under $300 GPS enabled shoes will ease the enormous physical and emotional burden borne by Alzheimer's victims, caregivers and their geographically distant family members,” said Patrick Bertagna, chief executive of GTX Corp.

Health professionals say the new GPS shoes could be a real boon for the more than five million Americans who suffer from the disease. Andrew Carle, a professor at George Mason University's College of Health and Human Services, said the shoes may even save lives. “It's especially important for people in the earliest stages of Alzheimer's who are at the highest risk… They might be living in their home but they're confused. They go for a walk and they can get lost for days,” Carle said.

GTX admitted they had got the idea from the use of similar shoes among prostitutes in ancient times. “Our first shoe, a demo version of the Platform 001 sandal, was inspired by the prostitutes of ancient Greece and Rome, who enticed clients with their flutes and sandals that left 'follow me' footprints in the earth,” explains the website for The Aphrodite Project. “Our contemporary sandals combine these poetic images from antiquity with promotional and safety features designed to meet the needs of today’s sex workers.” The Aphrodite Project's sandals are designed to protect with a piercing siren to scare off threatening muggers or attackers and a GPS-powered system that can send warnings to police.