Tazewell County is giving Alzheimer's, dementia and autism caregivers more peace of mind. The County is using the Care Trak system to track people prone to wandering.
Care Trak uses radio frequency wristbands to track individuals. The tracking systems can pick up a signal within a one mile radius.Tazewell County Sheriff Robert Houston says the system’s efficiency brings benefits to the police department as well.
"Some of these searches have taken a very long time in the past and required a lot of manpower. So this will be a huge savings both in terms of time, manpower and cost to sheriffs office as well as other law enforcement agencies. And it’ll also be of great benefit to the individuals who are in need of the service who become lost."
Care Trak has a 100 percent record in finding lost individuals, often in 30 minutes or less. The county purchased two tracking devices for five thousand dollars. The Autism Society donated three wristbands. The wristbands cost three hundred dollars. The success of this technique does not take into account those patients prone to wandering who will not keep such a device on their person.