Tag the Elderly

[Kat Kanning]

Tag elderly people with dementia, minister suggests

Thu Apr 19, 7:29 AM ET

LONDON (AFP) - Elderly people with dementia could be electronically tagged to make tracking their movements easier, a minister suggested.

Science Minister Malcolm Wicks said that the move would give sufferers "freedom to roam around their communities" and would have to be done with permission either from them or their family.

"This is about dignity and independence in old age," he told the BBC.

"They could have the safety and security that they would wish for themselves and certainly their families would feel more reassured."

The Department of Health refused to comment on whether the proposal is likely to become government policy.

Wicks's comments received a cautious welcome from one charity which works with old people.

Kate Jopling, of Help The Aged, said tagging might be a way of helping elderly people with dementia to live more independently.

"At first glance, these proposals may smack of the Big Brother state, but we shouldn't dismiss the potential of new technologies to afford dignity and opportunity to vulnerable older people," she said.

"The key issue would, of course, be the involvement and consent of the individual, and their family and carers, to ensure that the technology means better care -- not just care that's cheaper or more convenient."

But Shami Chakrabarti, director of civil rights group Liberty, warned against "gimmicks" which appear to offer "cheap and quick fixes".

There are currently some 700,000 people with dementia in Britain and the figure is likely to increase to 1.7 million by 2050.

The condition costs the country 17 billion pounds (25 billion euros, 34 billion dollars) a year.

[penguins4me]

We could just chain them to their beds - they'd have even more safety and security with the added benefit of knowing where they are at all times for less cost! :P

Speaking of England, I find photos of burned out, trashed surveillance/traffic cameras to be a sign that hope may still remain for that once-great country.

[error]

Sigh, 700,000 more victims of socialised health care.

[Crocuta]

One can't ignore the benefits of tagging all children at birth, either.  It would speed return of children in cases of kidnap, lost children, runaways, and kids who are five minutes late for dinner (dinner - something families used to have together in the evenings.)

[Lloyd Danforth]

Tag bureaucrats

[Dreepa]

One can't ignore the benefits of tagging all children at birth, either.  It would speed return of children in cases of kidnap, lost children, runaways, and kids who are five minutes late for dinner (dinner - something families used to have together in the evenings.)

Agreed.

So everyone we are gonna show how great this is by getting tagged.
Porcfest will have a special area set up for this...We will go by age.
Lloyd you are first.

[Lloyd Danforth]

When I saw you had posted in this topic, I suspected my name would come up. 

I am proposing the 'Doorway Protection Act'  where the vertically unchallenged would have to wear a device that buzzes when they approach a doorway for their own protection, and, in your case the protection of the doorway.

[Dreepa]

When I saw you had posted in this topic, I suspected my name would come up. 

I am proposing the 'Doorway Protection Act'  where the vertically unchallenged would have to wear a device that buzzes when they approach a doorway for their own protection, and, in your case the protection of the doorway.

Lloyd you need to come check out the hallway that I have to walk into to get to my office.... my kids call it the Hobbitt door.  I always feel like Alice in Wonderland.  I have had several bloody attacks in that hallway.  I have won some and the doorway has won some.

[Lloyd Danforth]

We need a law!

[Caleb]

I'm not so sure this is a bad idea.  The second paragraph he clearly says that it would have to be done with their consent. If a person who has dementia chooses to tag themselves so their family can find them if they get lost, I think that's not such a bad idea.  A lot of folks may be able to function, but then sometimes just bug out a little.  My grandma was that way.

[Lloyd Danforth]

Lojak

[Pat K]

Hello On star Grandpa got loose again.

Just a second sir I am tracking now.

Sir I have a location, its the Hogs and Heifers Tavern,
route 101.

O-K I will run over.

No hurry Sir, my screen shows he is drinking
Boiler makers and has a blond on his lap.
he should be there a while.


Sigh- thanks On Star.

[error]

Is that a nightmare or a fantasy?

[Dreepa]

I'm not so sure this is a bad idea.  The second paragraph he clearly says that it would have to be done with their consent. If a person who has dementia chooses to tag themselves so their family can find them if they get lost, I think that's not such a bad idea.  A lot of folks may be able to function, but then sometimes just bug out a little.  My grandma was that way.

Once people 'accept' tagging the next step is to require tagging for the elderly.  Then it is required for all old people because they might get dementia.  Then we might as well just have the tagging done early.

[Caleb]

So ... your solution is to make a rule that they cannot tag themselves if they feel they might benefit from it?  Maybe then we should go and take away their little button that they press if they fall down.  Hey, we can never be too careful with this slippery slope thing.  What else should we take away from people because it would be abhorrent to make it mandatory?