Dementia is a term used to describe a set of symptoms that can occur when certain diseases damage the brain. Symptoms include deterioration in memory, thinking, behavior and the ability to perform everyday activities. The most common cause of such symptoms is Alzheimer's disease. According to the World Health Organization, there are now 47.5 million people who have dementia, with another 7.7 million diagnosed each year. It is estimated that the number of people afflicted with this condition is going to double in the next 20 years to 75.6 million and triple to 135.5 million by 2050!
With no treatment or cure presently available, the growing concern is for people living in low- and middle-income countries who have limited to no ability to pay for some of the expensive monitoring solutions that are currently in the marketplace.
Dementia causes great stress to families and caregivers, especially due to the dangers of wandering. More than 60% of those with dementia will wander and if they're not found within 24 hours, up to half of individuals can end up seriously injured and in some instances have a fatal accident.
In the United Kingdom, where I live, over a quarter of UK hospital beds are occupied by someone with dementia. An estimated £700 million could be saved annually if the duration of hospital stays were reduced. Wandering is likely to cause injury to the sufferer and in turn result in hospital admittance. Therefore a product like the Proximity Button would not only make the lives of those caring for people with dementia more manageable but it would save the UK economy millions.
It's very important that we let those living with dementia carry on their lives normally and remain as active as possible. Therefore, products to aid walking and combat wandering are a vital part of dementia care. When I started thinking about this problem in 2014, the numbers were at 44-million, which goes to show how quickly this syndrome is growing.