Satnav 'could be used to track the elderly'*

By George Jones, Political Editor
Last Updated: 2:40am BST 19/04/2007

Satellite technology could be used to allow families to monitor elderly
relatives or those suffering from Alzheimer's, the Government suggested
yesterday.

Malcolm Wicks, the science and innovation minister, told MPs that
satellites currently monitored the planet in various ways - including
the -climate, the Antarctic and crops.

'Satnav'; Satnav 'could be used to track the elderly'

'Satnav' technology could be used to trace frail elderly people and
those suffering from dementia

Many motorists now used "satnav" systems - connected to global position
satellites - instead of maps to find their way around. The devices are
accurate to within a few yards.

"I'm raising this as a question for discussion - are there other uses of
satellite technology that could benefit society?" Mr Wicks told The
Daily Telegraph.

"For example, we've got an ageing population, with many people frail and
many suffering from dementia, including Alzheimer's - how can we get the
balance right so that these people have the freedom to live their lives,
to go out into the community and go shopping, but also that some might
benefit from being monitored so that their families know they are safe
and secure?

"These are new and early ideas - I'd be interested to hear people's
views on this."

Earlier, Mr Wicks told the Commons science and technology committee that
with an increasingly frail and elderly population, many families were
"worried about "what's happening to an 80- or 90-year-old who may have
Alzheimer's".

About 400,000 people in the UK are believed to have Alzheimer's disease.
It is more likely to develop as people get older and affects up to one
in five of those aged over 80.

But it can affect younger people, with about seven in 100 people being
affected by the age of 65.