Best trackers for lost loved ones with dementia

Four years ago, My husband wore a TheoraLink watch for a while. It was a reasonably good tracker. Part of the challenge was ensuring my husband would keep it on. A benefit of the watch was that he could call me using the watch by simply pushing a button. I could call him using the watch. The watch could only receive calls from allowed phone numbers which was a relief to avoid spam. It was a pricey watch and requires a monthly fee.
I suspect you could get comparable results with an Apple Watch.

I know some people use Apple Airtags and put one in their LO's wallet so they can track them with the FindMy app on their iPhone.

Airtags can also be placed on shoes, belt loops, and other garments. The trick, of course, is to be creative / ingenious so that the wearer will not locate it and remove it.

/LarryG

Is there a monthly fee with AirTag?

Our local sheriff’s department has a program that provides a bracelet or ankle monitor to help find someone with dementia or special needs. I have not used it, but know people who did. I put a medical ID bracelet on my husband’s wrist. It’s not easy to remove so he’s never taken it off. It has his name & my phone number and the words “mental impairment”. I also bought a Care Smart Watch through Verizon that has GPS & phone and he can call us, if he can remember how, and numbers entered into his phone can call him. I was not always pleased with the watch and really he is now past the point of my worrying about his wandering. Too weak.

Just got hubby a watch from life station. Monthly fee. If he needs help he pushes watch and they talk to him through the watch. I have a phone number they gave me where I can text just 2 words Find John. The text gets back to me with location where hubby is. I’ll be more relieved when he gives up his car.

We had to take my wife's cellphone away from her. Now I worry about losing track of her in a public space. What can I do to not lose her? Someone suggested an Apple tracker. What are other people using for this?

in reply to @briankj I understand. Is it possible to keep a closer eye on her when out in public? I am not going to suggest a leash, although that did enter my mind when I saw your post. Those trackers are not foolproof, as my brother in law has been "lost" on more than one occasion. They can be useful as long as the person does not "lose" the tracker, if you are talking about one of those devices. On the other hand, the iPhone is good for location sharing which might be helpful, assuming your wife can hang on the cell phone, which my brother in law could not. If I were you, I would ensure you are with her at all times so she does not get "lost." I am so sorry that this is happening to you.

Thank you, I'll get a tracker for her purse. I have an Android phone so I'll have to do some research to figure out which is a good one.

@briankj Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect! You’ve asked a great question that I’m sure many others wonder about. I know you must worry when she (or both of you) are out and about in public. I know I would, Just this week, I bought Medic Alert bracelets for my husband and I. We are both on immunosuppressant drugs so I thought this would be a safe option. You can choose what you want engraved on the bracelet, including your phone number.
Let’s wait for other members to chime in with their ideas. What do you think your wife will think about having something on her that lets you know where she is?