A police force is working with charities and support groups to promote a wristband scheme aimed at helping to safeguard vulnerable adults living with dementia.
Avon and Somerset Police has developed the project as part of its Dementia Safeguarding Scheme, which was launched in 2015.
Under the scheme, free NFC (Near Field Communication) enabled wristbands have been made available to people living with dementia, storing essential information about the wearer including their name and details of next of kin.
This information can be accessed by emergency services, health professionals or community members to help return the wearer to safety should they be found whilst lost or in need of assistance.
The wristbands have been provided with charitable funding and are free of charge when a person is registered for the Herbert Protocol/Dementia Safeguarding scheme.
The passive device is not used for tracking and contains non-personal data to ensure the safety of the wearer. Anyone who has an NFC enabled phone can retrieve information from the wristband, meaning getting someone to safety doesn’t always require intervention by emergency services.
A statement from the force noted that around 40,000 people with dementia go missing for the first time every year in the UK.
It also highlighted research by the University of East Anglia showing that around 70 percent of people with dementia may go missing at least once, with some at risk of going missing multiple times.
Sergeant. Stuart King, who is leading the Th Missing Person Dementia Safeguarding Scheme, said many other forces across the UK and internationally have been in touch with an interest in launching a similar service.
Stuart said: “Throughout my policing career, I’ve encountered many situations where people with dementia are lost and confused, some of which sadly ended in tragic circumstances. It’s often an upsetting experience for the lost person and whilst we try to work quickly and sensitively to get them home, it can be challenging for us to find out who they are and where they live.
“I really care about finding better ways to serve members of our community who are living with dementia whilst treating them with the compassion and dignity they deserve. Whilst this isn’t a replacement for good care, this tech is cheap and accessible, and the feedback from the past six years of the wider scheme alongside the 12 months that the NFC wristbands have been allocated out is that it is making a positive difference.
“In addition to offering the wearable tech, the Dementia Safeguarding Scheme also has a support group and can be found on Facebook by searching ‘Avon and Somerset Dementia Forum’. We would invite the public to visit to find out more.”
