Old people are going missing
Growing numbers of old people are going missing in Montreal. This weekend, for example, an 85‑year‑old is missing in Pierrefonds, but every week I see at least one, and often several, brief news pieces about older people who’ve wandered off. Usually I don’t blog them, and they turn up.
The gerontologist quoted by TVA says it’s simply because we have a growing number of old people, and a percentage of them are bound to be getting confused about where they are.
Update: The missing man has been found dead and police say it isn’t a criminal case.
Ephraim 11:41 on 2023-08-28 Permalink
Is it time to AirTag old people?
Kate 12:11 on 2023-08-28 Permalink
I wonder what the law would say if someone operating a seniors’ residence made it mandatory for the residents to be tagged.
Ephraim 15:10 on 2023-08-28 Permalink
Well the AirTag or TileTag would be something you would wear. It’s not like we are asking adults to be chipped, like dogs and cats
jeather 15:32 on 2023-08-28 Permalink
I know people who put airtags or the like on their pets, the chip is only useful once the animal is found, not while it is missing. If I had escape artist cats I might do the same, but luckily mine have no interest in leaving my balcony.
Kate 16:09 on 2023-08-28 Permalink
jeather, I thought an airtag would show you where something or somebody is. Whereas when you chip a pet, the chip needs to be read at a vet or animal shelter to be useful.
Blork 17:48 on 2023-08-28 Permalink
Kate, you are correct that an Airtag will show you were the tag is. I think jeather has two separate ideas in the same sentence: (a) Some people put Airtags on their pets; (b) Chips only work when you find the animal.
jeather 19:09 on 2023-08-28 Permalink
Yes, I know people who put airtags on their chipped pets due to the fact that the chips are only useful once a lost pet has been found. If I had pets where this was a concern I would do the same.
Kevin 09:36 on 2023-08-29 Permalink
There’s a big market for Dementia Trackers. They’re built into everything from bracelets to pendants to insoles. The monthly plan for Telus’ version is about $50 a month.
Uatu 10:41 on 2023-08-29 Permalink
The Royal Vic used to have dementia patients wear a giant orange shirt with the hospital logo on it and there were posters everywhere saying not to let them leave the ward or to report anyone wearing it that are wandering around. Airtag tech seems to be a better alternative because in the next 10yrs there probably would’ve been a sea of orange shirts
Ephraim 11:12 on 2023-08-29 Permalink
And there is no monthly for AirTag or Tile. They bounce signals off of each other to tell you where they are.
dhomas 15:34 on 2023-08-29 Permalink
They don’t really bounce signals off the other tags. But every time an iOS device gets within a few meters (the range of Bluetooth, about 30m) of the tag, it reports back to the network and then back to the owner.
My brother’s AirTagged luggage got stolen in Rome a few weeks ago and he was able to track it to Casablanca, Morocco. Not that there is anything he could do about it now.