Hello my friends, as promised, here is the news i have been waiting so long to give to you. Please share on your national network, websites, NHS Trusts, Police forces, Mountain rescue teams, memory cafes, memory clinics, care homes, web pages, newspapers radio stations and all media that you know. As a person with dementia it has always been my goal to improve the lives of all others touched by this awful disease. I hope this goes a little way to doing this, very best wishes, Norrms and family

FREE GPS Systems
Re-
Dementia

Many things have been said about GPS systems and people with Dementia over the last few weeks, and may I add, probably mostly from people who have had little or no contact with it. I myself was asked to reply to a piece in the Guardian newspaper after the Director of one Charity named them QUOTE “Barbaric” UNQUOTE.

In my reply (Below)

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/may/01/dementia-police-tracking-device

In it, I State that if “Given the chance” I would wear a GPS system in a “Heartbeat” to not only give myself peace of mind, but to allay any worries that friends and family may have about me going missing or even worse, dying due to malnutrition, dehydration and everything else that comes along with “Wandering”.

I have the utmost pleasure in announcing that for the last few weeks I have been doing just that, and I have to say it’s Quite a Piece of KIT!! The one I have been trialing is the most up to date device there is and I WHOLE HEARTEDLY, 100% give it my APPROVAL!!

Now to the sticky bit, COST!! These devices can range from anywhere between £100 upwards (please Google GPS systems for dementia), and whilst it doesn’t seem a lot to some to keep a loved one safe, it is a big outlay for some in this day and age. On top of this is the unavoidable monthly cost of the actual monitoring of the user and system, which requires 24/7 365 real time monitoring by real people and tech back up. Reports, mapping, access to emergency response and alerts, reacting and locating the person all incur a cost and must paid for. The cost of this monthly monitoring when you take all this into account is about £15.99. BUT!! I think we all agree that most of us probably spend more than this a month on Coffee ECT!!

So could you imagine, in a perfect world, where these devices were ABSOLUTLY FREE!! (Apart from the monthly monitoring) To those who had a diagnosis of dementia and were prone to wandering and to registered carers? Can you even begin to imagine the lives that could be saved, the stress and worry that would be eliminated, the sleepless nights that could be avoided?? Just to know that there is somebody there at the end of as phone, day or night who could answer your call and pinpoint EXACTLY where your loved one is and have them picked up safely?

After many weeks of Discussions and negotiations with Ostrich care uk http://www.ostrichcare.co.uk/
It is with IMMENSE PRIDE I can now say; thanks to all at Ostrich Care this is now possible!!
YES!!
You heard it right!!
FREE GPS SYSTEMS
for those with Dementia in the process of being diagnosed and prone to wandering!! And for registered carers. Users will only pay for the monthly tracking not the unit.
This is a huge turning point in the lives of all those who are touched by this awful disease and to say I, as well as others will be eternally grateful to Ostrich for doing this is an understatement!!

Like all things there must be a process for this so here are the facts.
I am letting you all know now how this is going to work, as you may imagine the ‘rush’ for these could create a situation where chaos could ensue! So we need to manage that.

These will first be available to the general public from Dec 1st 2013
They will be able to order them via the Ostrich UK call centre or on line. Details of how to apply will be sent out via Twitter and facebook and I will also be letting organisations and people I know, such as yourselves, have exact details of how to get involved.
If users elect to pay for a years monitoring up front, they will only pay for 11 months and get 12 months saving a further £15.99!

Because of the nature of the safety of checking and arranging the individual set up of each, which includes setting boundaries if required, logging and taking medical information, that with permission can be made available to emergency services at the time of an accident, collecting immediate carer or friends or family contact information, these will be issued free in restricted numbers in the first three months.

This is to ensure supply and demand are equally matched and while ordering, delivery and information capture is fine tuned. We don’t want people ordering a unit and due to a backlog of demand experience a delay in being able to process their information, which must be gathered on a one on one.

These trackers can also be bought for a reduced price of £69.99 again in limited numbers, for all the same reasons and way below the usual price of such a piece of equipment. Of course when they are bought, this helps Ostrich to maintain free units. These GPS units are terrific for people living alone, they also act as a falls alarm, are great for lone workers, for women and men who travel or work alone, for ramblers and those enjoying outdoor pursuits. In fact everyone should have one anyway!

Ostrich are committed to helping me raise awareness of Dementia. They already support, with window stickers and information posters, our retail campaign encouraging shops to be Dementia aware. They are appointing 50 Ostrich Purple Angel Ambassadors across the world, to help me spread the word on the Purple Angel Campaign, and they understand the practical needs I have faced in getting this message out there.

It is important to say that Ostrich must reserve the right to withdraw this offer at any time, and I am sure we understand that.

At the beginning of this year I asked if we could please try and make sure 2013 was the year the “World Listened” I really believe that now, they will.

Please contact www.ostrichcare.co.uk follow them on Twitter and on facebook for updates.

Tonight I will sleep better in my bed, knowing that in the future, so will so many others.
(Now, can I have a day off please?? LOLL, only joking)

All our love, Norrms , Elaine and family xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx