Centre for Policy on Ageing



Safe walking? — issues and ethics in the use of electronic surveillance of people with dementia
Author(s)	Rhidian Hughes
Journal title	Journal of Assistive Technologies, vol 2, no 1, March 2008
Pages	pp 45-48
Source	http://www.pavpub.com
Keywords	Dementia ; Wandering ; Walking ; Electronic alarm systems ; Social ethics.
Annotation	People with dementia are prone to persistent walking (also known as "wandering"). Walking can bring physical and psychological benefits, but people with dementia also walk because of anxiety or confusion. People with dementia are at risk of becoming lost or involved in accidents, and this raises concerns for them and their carers. Electronic surveillance and tracking, as a form of safer walking technology, can be used to monitor people's whereabouts and is being used in dementia care. The technology raises a number of practical and ethical issues. This article reviews the key themes and arguments surrounding its use, with a view to raising issues for further debate. The article shows the need to carefully balance people's freedom and rights, including the right to take risks, with care and safety concerns. (KJ/RH).
Accession Number	CPA-080721205 A
Classmark	EA: EPC: HSA: OV:YA6: TQ
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...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing.