As our parents age, keeping track of their locations and ensuring their safety becomes more important.
Aging parents are more prone to health and mobility issues and cognitive diseases like Alzheimer’s. For such reasons, it’s important to be able to keep an eye on an elderly parent and be available round-the-clock in case of an emergency.
One way to watch over an elderly parent is to track their cell phone. This article covers techniques for doing that, such as using phone applications and GPS devices.
Key Takeaways
Use of a tracking device for a parent's phone is legal and ethical if it is mutually agreed upon.
Mobile apps and GPS trackers are the best ways to monitor a parent as they age.
Consider monthly charges and GPS functionality before buying a tracker for your parent.
Allowing a parent to participate actively in decision-making and having honest dialogues will help you reduce, if not eliminate, any qualms you may have about tracking them.
Why Track an Aging Parent?
To say the least, monitoring anybody, particularly a parent, may seem intrusive. However, tracking an elderly parent for safety reasons may be your best alternative if their mental abilities decline as they age.
The following are some of the most common reasons why individuals opt to monitor an elderly parent:
Tracking your parent allows you to be aware of what they are doing.
Tracking your parent gives you a clear idea of where they're heading.
Knowing your parent's location can help you get to them promptly if assistance is required.
In short, you may opt to follow your elderly parent to provide yourself with more peace of mind.
GPS monitoring gadgets are particularly useful if you live far away from a parent and you wish to provide safety and assistance when required.
When Should You Monitor an Elderly Parent?
Perhaps you're wondering when you should start worrying about monitoring your elderly parent's movements. While there is no hard and fast rule about when to start monitoring, several things might help you decide.
Cognitive Decline
It is normal for people's mental processes to deteriorate as they age. While this may not seem to be a worry initially, it may become a safety concern with time. The most rapid deterioration in mental function normally occurs around the age of 60, although it may start as early as 45. The most prevalent problems with mental function decline are:
Forgetfulness.
Confusion.
Inability to follow instructions.
Getting lost when wandering inside a business or when driving.
Physical Health Concerns
Health issues may arise when individuals begin to age and enter the senior category. There could be occasions when health problems begin to interfere with your parent's day-to-day functioning and, as a result, hinder them while they are on the road.
While not all health issues need monitoring, the following are ones to keep an eye out for:
Missed medical appointments.
Forgotten medication.
Poor hygiene.
Unusual bruising.
If you see any of these instances in a parent, it may be time to start tracking them while they go about their regular activities. Taking notice of these indicators early on could spare you a lot of time and stress later on.
Is It Legal to Track an Aging Parent?
If you're using a monitoring device to keep an eye on an elderly parent, make sure you discuss it with them beforehand. The usage of a tracking device is legal and ethical, but only if it's mutually agreed on.
If you discreetly implant a monitoring device on a parent's phone and they are unaware of it, you could face criminal prosecution if your parent wanted to press charges. In the United States, the illegal tracking of a phone can be a federal crime under the Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA), which prohibits unauthorized access to stored electronic communications, including GPS data, from a person's cell phone.
Penalties for violating the ECPA can include fines and imprisonment for up to five years.
It is best to be open and honest with your parent, both for your relationship's sake and your legal situation.
Option 1: Use a Phone App
Mobile phone apps can help you monitor the health and safety of an elderly parent remotely.
Senior Safety App
The Senior Safety App from the Google Play Store for free and is compatible with all Android phones. A paid version of the app with more features costs $4.50 a month or $45 a year.
The Senior Safety App can be set up in seconds, allowing caregivers to remotely monitor alarms, reports, and whereabouts using their smartphones or PCs.
When you use the Senior Safety App, you will receive notifications for emergency help requests, falls, network changes (SIM card changes), phone inactivity for an extended time, entries/exits from geolocations (buildings, streets, cities, or neighborhoods), app installs or uninstalls, and low-battery alerts.
The SOS and round-robin calling features are free. Other features described here are part of the paid version.
SOS option: Seniors may use the SOS option to swiftly get assistance when they need it. When this option is chosen, text alerts are sent to numerous persons, informing them of the phone's present position. A round-robin call option calls all emergency contacts one by one until a connection is made.
Fall warning function: This tracks movement using the phone's built-in motion sensors and automatically sends alarms in the event of an unexpected jerk or incapacitation.
Zone Alert: This feature notifies trackers if a dementia patient strays away from home. You can set a custom geo-fence, such as a house, neighborhood, or town, and get notifications when the device departs or enters that region.
You can also receive notifications when the phone is motionless for a lengthy period of time, which may be modified depending on the user's lifestyle.
Low-battery warning: For some elders, their phone is their sole means of communication with the outside world. As a result, keeping it charged is critical. You can set when you want to get notifications depending on battery availability.
History of visited locations: A history of the areas visited is necessary to verify that your parent is receiving enough exercise and seeing the doctor on time. It can also monitor unexpected trips.
Option 2: Use a GPS Tracker
Theora Connect Tracker Watch
The Theora Connect is a watch that includes a pre-activated cell phone. The watch connects to your parent's phone through the Theora app. This remote tracker offers two-way voice activation without needing to push any buttons.
Key features:
Includes a watch and a phone.
Allows for two-way voice communication.
Price: Starting around $250 for the watch; a monthly service plan is extra.
Americaloc GL300 MXW GPS Tracker
This GPS tracker has a range capable of crossing state lines, and the battery can last for more than a month. The tracker documents up to one year of location history and sends an alert when if your senior parent enters or leaves certain areas.
Key features:
Live tracking data.
One year of tracking data
Tracking is available from any tablet, computer, or cell phone (Android and IOS apps are available).
Price: $55.98 plus a monthly service fee of about $21.
Considerations Before Purchasing a GPS Tracker
Monthly Charges
Many GPS trackers charge a monthly subscription. This is because they utilize cellular technology to determine your parent's position and deliver it to you.
There are devices with no monthly charge. However, some have restricted tracking capabilities.
GPS Functionality
If you want a GPS tracker that can track throughout the country, you should use a more costly, traditional tracker. If you need short-range tracking, there are simpler, less costly options.
Additional Functionality
Many GPS trackers provide a slew of extra capabilities. Some trackers, for example, serve as fitness trackers, delivering health measures and other data. Two-way calling, SOS buttons, and audio monitoring are further features to look for.
What Happens If Your Parent Travels Abroad?
If you need to track a parent who travels or lives abroad, consider investing in a GPS device that sends data in real time. While all GPS trackers use satellites, minor synchronization discrepancies exist when tracking abroad. This is something to consider before making a purchase.
How Should You Explain Tracking to a Parent?
Deciding to keep a closer check on a parent may be an emotional experience for both of you. Remember that losing independence is a difficult experience, and depending on someone else to keep you safe may be emotionally draining for an elderly parent.
Keep Your Parent Involved
You may have your parent's best interests at heart, and tracking them might be highly valuable. Nonetheless, you must enable them to be a part of the process.
When you exclude someone from decision-making, you effectively establish your power over them, which might make them feel vulnerable. The best thing you can do is present numerous options and assist them in selecting the choice that makes them feel the most at ease.
Listen
You must listen to your parent while making life-changing choices for them.
It may be difficult to decide to monitor your parent since you understand the rationale for your choice, but they may have questions and concerns that need your attention.
Ask Questions
Ask your parent if they have any questions or reservations regarding monitoring. They could think it's a good idea, but they'll probably have some questions.
Sympathize with them and spend time answering their questions. It's OK if you do not know the answer to a question. Nevertheless, try to find the answer as soon as possible.
Take the Initiative
Tracking an elderly parent is a huge decision that should not be taken lightly.
While it may seem to be something far in the future, it is prudent to be prepared. Being proactive allows for more research and gives your parent time to consider the prospect of monitoring. While this may not ensure a smooth transition, it can help.
You may spend a lot of time planning to use devices to track a parent and have the most technologically sophisticated program, but at the end of the day, the best thing you can do is be empathetic.
Related: Estate Planning for Elderly Parents
How Trustworthy Can Help
Although a GPS can help you monitor a parent's location, it will not help you locate their legal documents in the case of an emergency.
Trustworthy allows you and your parent to store digital versions of important documents such as healthcare directives, wills, and power of attorney, and they can easily be shared with family members.
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Trustworthy is an online service providing legal forms and information. We are not a law firm and do not provide legal advice.
