Personal Care | Outdoor

Best GPS Trackers for Seniors

In today’s world, there’s a high population of elderly living with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and it’s continuously rising. Aging people with cognitive conditions and dementia feel more confused, lost, and disoriented in both recognizable and unusual places. This wandering is due to memory loss conditions and can be potentially dangerous.

So if you’re worried that your older loved ones might walk into risky places and get lost, the best way to keep track of their safety is a GPS tracker. The innovative technology is specially designed for wandering and lost seniors to prevent dangerous situations and emergencies. With more advancement in GPS medical technology, you’ll see that there are tons of GPS tracking products to keep track of your aging loved one’s location. Nonetheless, not all GPS trackers are made the same.

Luckily, we made it easy for you to choose the best GPS tracker for seniors with our extensive research.

GPS TrackersCoverageLocation tracking byDimensionsWeightMonthly fee
Tracki 2020l Mini Real-time GPS Tracker WorldwideGPS

Wi-Fi

GSM

Bluetooth

1.8 x 1.6 x 0.7’’1.26 ounces$9.95-19.95
bouncie – GPS Location

 

WorldwideOnboard event processing

cellular communication

1.75 x 1.87 x 1’’1.2 ounces$8
Jiobit

 

WorldwideCellular

GPS

Wi-Fi

Bluetooth

1.96 x 1.45 x 0.47’’0.8 ounces$8.99-12.99
AMERICALOC GPS Tracker GL300 MXW

 

WorldwideCellular

GPS

2.7 x 1.51 x 0.92’’
 2.24 ounces
$25
AngelSense Personal GPS Tracker

 

US Nationwide Coverage

 

GPS

Cellular

1.9 x 3 x 0.8’’13.3 ounces$39.99
Spytec GL300 GPS Tracker

 

WorldwideGPS

Cellular

3 x 1 x 1.5’’5.6 ounces$24.95
Alphahom Care Go

 

WorldwideGPS

Bluetooth 5.0

0.59 x 0.59 x 2.64’’0.099 ouncesNone
LifeStation Medical Alert System

 

The US nationwide4G LTE cellular

GPS

Wi-Fi

3.05 x 1.73 x 0.87’’2.54 ounces$34.95
Family1st GPS Tracking Device

 

USA

Canada

Mexico

Puerto Rico

U.S. Virgin Islands

4G LTE cellular

GPS

Wi-Fi

2.75 x 1.8 x 1.1’’3.68 ounces$19-38
Lively Wearable2 Mobile Medical Alert

 

The US nationwideGPS

Bluetooth

1.4 x 1.3 x 0.55’’0.7 ounces$24.99

  1   Tracki 2020l Mini Real-time GPS Tracker

It’s a small 3G portable GPS tracker with an SOS panic button.

Coverage: Worldwide Dimensions: 1.8 x 1.6 x 0.7’’ Weight: 1.26 ounces Tracking through:  GPS, GSM, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi Monthly fee: $9.95-19.95

Tracki GPS Tracker for Vehicles, Car, Kids, Assets. Subscription Needed 4G LTE GPS Tracking Device. Unlimited Distance, US & Worldwide. Small Portable Real time Mini Magnetic

The worldwide GPS tracking by portable Tracki offers great safety and peace of mind to caregivers and family members of senior citizens with dementia or other memory loss issues. It’s capable of tracking anything that moves and works for unlimited distance. Unlike other US, UK, CA-based tracker that works of their specific country, Tracki offers worldwide coverage. Wi-Fi indoor tracking, Bluetooth for quick 100 feet tracking, GPS, and a built-in SIM card for cellular internet data reports the precise accurate location.

Alert notifications include speeding, a sudden move, low battery, speeding, SOS, and safe zone. The Geo-fence crossing feature allows you to create a safe zone for elderly parents or kids. This alerts you with a smartphone notification when the set safe zone is crossed. In case of emergency or fall, it features a large SOS panic button that instantly sends an alert to loved ones.  In addition to unlimited manual ping every 5 seconds, it also offers 5 years history of map routes with date and time. Alerts are received via email, texts, and app.

To easily attach to a bag, belt luggage, pets, children, etc, it comes with an attachment clip, key-chain, and lanyard. If you want to track vehicles, there’s a special water-proof storage box sold separately with a strong magnet. You can place this easily under the vehicle. The tracking device runs on a Li-ion rechargeable battery with 2-3 days of battery life.

Setup is easy and quick with instant activation. Since it requires a SIM card, you require a monthly fee ranging from $9.95-19.95 depending on the package you choose.

Pros
  • Small compact size
  • Lightweight
  • built-in SIM card
  • real-time location updates
Cons
  • Poor battery life

  2   Bouncie – GPS Location

It’s a vehicle tracker for all senior drivers with an early stage of dementia.

Coverage: Worldwide, Tracking: Onboard event processing + cellular communication, Dimensions: 1.75 x 1.87 x 1’’ Weight: 1.2 ounces Monthly Fee: $8

Bouncie - GPS Car Tracker [4G LTE], Vehicle Location, Accident Notification, Route History, Speed Monitoring, GeoFence, No Activation Fees, Cancel Anytime, Family or Fleets

Although bouncie is a 3G vehicle tracker, it can also be used for tracking locations of the elderly because safety is essential. This tracking device offers peace of mind with real-time location data. It sends accident notification, roadside assistance, and speed monitoring insights. Another great feature for elderly drivers is that bouncie continuously tracks your vehicle’s health. You’ll be notified if running low on fuel, battery, or other things that need immediate attention.

The state-of-the-art RTLS system creates fence zones without locking doors or gates. You can set a designated area for a safe zone and when the person crosses that fence, you immediately receive an alert via text or email. Location is updated every 15 seconds to give you more accurate live tracking. Since bouncie can detect an impact event, this will issue an automated alert to notification contacts if the elderly falls.

The little 1.75 x 1.87 x 1’’ adapter plugs in any vehicle within 5 minutes without requiring any wires or tools. It works directly with the bouncie app that’s accessible both on your computer and smartphone. You can also set custom alerts to keep you informed; speed, acceleration, braking, and even safe driving times. The device will also export complete location history using the spreadsheets. Plus, the Bouncie’s ability to share the monitoring capabilities with others is effective for a family with an aging member. You get the monthly subscription for $8 only! So, this makes a great GPS tracker for all elderly drivers.

Pros
  • Geo circles
  • Vehicle health alerts
  • Accident notifications
  • Trip history
Cons
  • Roadside assistance for US users only

  3   Jiobit

It’s a certified location tracker with the secure TrustChip technology.

Coverage: Worldwide Dimensions: 1.96 x 1.45 x 0.47’’ Tracking: Bluetooth+GPS+Wi-Fi+Cellular              Weight: 0.8 ounces, Monthly plan: $8.99-12.99

Jiobit Gen 2 - Tracker for Kids, Teens, Seniors, Autism, Special Needs, Dementia | Real-Time GPS Tracking (Discontinued by Manufacturer)

Jiobit is an advanced small-size and real-time location tracker for kids and the elderly no matter what the distance is. The portable mini device tracks the real-time location of loved ones indoors or outdoors using the progressive technology of Wi-Fi, GPS, cellular, and Bluetooth. Jiobut is safe and discreet; it uses end-to-end encryption to keep data secure. Thanks to the advanced TrustChip used!

It comes with a hem-lock clip, secure loop, fabric pouch, and flexible ring accessories for easy attachment to clothes, shoes, bags, belts, etc. Jiobit is lightweight yet durable with water and a shock-proof body so that it can withstand any impact without breaking.

This complete solution doesn’t require any additional hardware; your smartphone is the hub via the mobile app. The app lets you set boundaries or trusted places and alerts you when the elderly strays from an unexpected location. Besides, there’s an option to select care teams that can include your other family members and will receive the same type of notifications and alerts. Then there are SOS alerts and location updates. Besides, there are departure and arrival alerts from home and trusted locations. This gives great peace of mind to caregivers dealing with patients with sensory sensitivities. Unlike other GPS trackers that have short battery life, Jiobit can last for about a whole week.

Pros
  • Real-time tracking
  • SOS alerts
  • Custom Geo-fencing
  • Unlimited app users
Cons
  • No fall detection

  4   AMERICALOC GPS Tracker GL300 MXW

It’s a reliable, secure, and simple to use GPS tracker with great battery life.

Coverage: Worldwide Dimensions: 2.7 x 1.51 x 0.92’’ Weight: 2.24 ounces   Tracking: GPS + cellular Monthly fee: $25

AMERICALOC GPS Tracker. GL300 MXW Series. Mini Personal and Vehicle GPS Tracker. Long Battery Life. Advanced CAT M1 Technology

This 3G portable GPS tracker from AMERICALOC is perfect to know the location of your elderly loved ones. With a compact and sleek design, this 2.7 x 1.51 x 0.92” device easily gets in a pocket, bag packs, etc. The lightning-fast LTE cellular network and GPS offer real-time tracking through web access using common browsers. Thanks to the intuitive interface, users can easily monitor activity, manage alerts, and generate custom reports with 1-year tracking history. Plus, you can receive alerts on the go with the smartphone app available for Android and iOS.

Create Geo-fencing zones for seniors that alert you each time this GL300 GPS tracker exits or enters the designated zone. It utilizes Google Maps for mapping and tracking of routes. Moreover, this black-colored tracker features a large SOS button on the front. Seniors can hold this button for 3 seconds to manually send an email or text alert to trusted emergency contacts.

It’s built to last with heavy-duty materials and water-proof housing. Not just improved coverage, it also has better battery life. The GL300 tracker comes with a 2600mAh rechargeable battery that lasts for about 10-12 days. With a $25 monthly subscription, you can receive location updates as frequently as you need; 10, 30, or 60 seconds tracking plans. No activation, contract, or cancellation fee!

Pros
  • CAT M1 Technology
  • 1-year history
  • Long-lasting battery
  • Geo-fence
Cons
  • Doesn’t work well indoors
  • No Bluetooth and Wi-Fi

 5   AngelSense Personal GPS Tracker

It’s a US-based portable location tracker for people with dementia.

Coverage: US nationwide, Dimensions: 1.9 x 3 x 0.8’’ Weight: 13.3 ounces Tracking: LTE 4G cellular + GPS Monthly fee: $39.99

AngelSense Personal GPS Tracker for Kids, Teen, Autism, Special Needs, Elderly, Dementia - 2-Way Auto-Answer Speakerphone & SOS Button - School Bus Tracking - Easy-to-Use App

AngelSense is a personal GPS device with cloud-based analytics and a web app that enables continuous monitoring of your aging relatives that tend to get lost in outdoor places due to sensory issues. It provides real-time location and alerts at unexpected changes using GPS reception and cellular coverage.

There are various ways to wear this small AngelSense device. It has many wearable accessories that make sure that the device stays on securely with the best direction for GPS reception. The kit includes a protective sleeve, 3 fasteners, as well as a magnetic key. You get notifications in the form of text messages on your phone and updates to the app. The instant alerts for wandering and elopement allows you to monitor the real-time route of the elderly member. Also, you’ll be notified instantly on arrivals at a new location with every 10 seconds update. Unlike other trackers that provide 1-year route history, AngelSense offers non-stop live tracking with unlimited history of all transits and locations.

Thanks to the emergency search and rescue features! The device has an SOS button on the front for unlimited SOS requests when seniors need assistance. Moreover, AngelSense features an assistive speaker with 2-way voice and auto pickup. You can talk to your elderly parents at any time to ensure their well-being. You get all these premium safety features with a $39.9 monthly subscription.

AngelSense is designed to increase seniors’ security and peace of mind.

Pros
  • Assistive speakerphone
  • Continous live tracking
  • SOS alerts
  • Unlimited route history
Cons
  • Yearly contract

  6    Spytec GL300 GPS Tracker

It’s a fast and secure GPS tracker that tracks the location of your loved ones.

Coverage: Worldwide Dimensions: 3 x 1 x 1.5’’ Weight: 5.6 ounces Tracking: LTE + GPS    Monthly fee: $24.95

Spytec GPS Mini GPS Tracker for Vehicles, Cars, Trucks, Loved Ones, Fleets, Hidden Tracker Device for Vehicles with Unlimited US and Worldwide Real-Time Tracking App - GL300 4GLTE Super SIM Tracker

The Spytec GL300 lets you track anything in real-time with precision performance. It’s supported by a global GPS satellite network for worldwide coverage. This pinpoints the accurate location and then passes to both Spytec web and smartphone app where you can view it with an easy format. Thanks to the intuitive software, 4G satellite, and advanced cloud-based technology. It makes it a super-reliable tracker with 99.99% uptime and a processing time of fewer than 0.256 milliseconds.

The software helps you make sense of location data that gives tracking knowledge. Another advanced feature is the boundary geo-fence setting. You get an instant alert if an aging adult enters or crosses the assigned boundary. Additional features for better functionality include customizable user permissions and alerts, multiple reporting options. Besides, an SOS button is present in case of real-life emergencies.

Spytec software requires a subscription and it’s available with either monthly or yearly plans. Not only for elderly tracking, but it’s also a versatile tracker for your vehicles and all valuable assets. A compact slim design makes it perfect for covert applications and it’s durable enough to work in harsh conditions. Plus, it offers 2.5 week-long battery life as opposed to short battery GPS trackers that require constant recharging.

Pros
  • 2-weeks battery life
  • Intuitive user-friendly software
  • Encrypted secure data
  • Geo-fence function
Cons
  • No Wi-Fi or Bluetooth

  7  Alphahom Care Go

It’s the most compact GPS tracker on our list with a personal alarm for safety.

Coverage: Worldwide Dimensions: 0.59 x 0.59 x 2.64’’ Weight: 0.099 ounces Tracking: Bluetooth 5.0 + GPS Monthly Fee: No

Alphahom Personal Safety Alarm for Women - Care Go Smart Security Horns, Emergency One to Many Siren and Real-time Location via, Self Defense Alarm with LED Lights for Kids Elderly

Powered by Bluetooth 5.0 and GPS technology, it ensures high reliability with wide coverage, lightning-fast speed, and connection. The Alphahom Care Go is the most lightweight and compact GPS tracker on the market. This makes it so easy for the elderly to carry around easily and use accompanying them on their way home. Since it’s designed for everyday use to track your older loved one’s location, it features a strong aluminum casing and is crafted with high-quality aluminum alloy for utmost durability. Simply connect the device to your iOS/android phone via the Care go app.

Moreover, the highlighting feature is the next-generation personal alarm system that’s designed to save your aging family member’s life in trouble. An SOS alert with real-time location is sent to all emergency contacts immediately by simply pulling the Care go device. This makes the protector’s phone sound very loudly even in silent mode. You can reach their loved ones to help in the face of danger. This smart, effective, and simple alarm makes sure that seniors and kids are protected and safe.

A simple twist of the Alphahom device activates the ‘follow me’ mode when you feel unsafe. The listed protectors are then notified and track real-time location on the map. Unlike other trackers that require a monthly subscription, Care Go is free from yearly contracts or monthly billing plans. It’s an easy, cost-effective, and secure way to protect your aging parents or grandparents.

Pros
  • SOS function
  • Personal alarm
  • Rechargeable built-in battery
  • Lightweight and compact
Cons
  • Critical alerts available for iOS only

  8    LifeStation Medical Alert System

It’s an award-winning alarm device for GPS emergency monitoring of seniors.

Coverage: US nationwide, Dimensions: 3.05 x 1.73 x 0.87’’ Weight: 2.54 ounces Tracking: 4G LTE + GPS + Wi-Fi Monthly Fee: $34.95

LifeStation Mobile 4G LTE Medical Alert System - Life Alarm Device for Seniors. Nationwide GPS and WiFi Coverage. Includes 3 Free Month of 24/7 Emergency Monitoring.

The LifeStation mobile Medical alert offers great independence, security, and peace of mind for you and the elderly family members. With a simple push of a recessed help button on the front, you’ll immediately be connected to TMA certified LifeStation care specialist.

In the event of a serious emergency, the LifeStation care center will call out and notify trusted contacts like family, friends, or emergency services to get instant help that the elderly require. Whether on then go, indoors, or at home, LifeStation has a location tracking solution with the fastest 4G LTE, GPS technology, and Wi-Fi. A built-in powerful speaker and microphone let users talk to LifeStation care center.

With the monthly $34.95 subscription fee, you also get an additional fall detection alert. The device runs on a rechargeable Li-ion battery that offers 5 days of battery life. Plus, it comes with an easy-to-charge charging cradle. When the battery life is low, you get a verbal notification alert to charge it. Another great thing about Care Go is that it’s fully integrated with the voice assistant Amazon Alexa.

It features a sleek contemporary design with a fully waterproof body. Besides, it weighs just 2.54 ounces so the elderly can easily wear this device around the neck without any strain. It will fit comfortably in your purse or pocket without the feeling weighed down.

Pros
  • Intuitive design
  • Speaker and microphone
  • Lightweight and small
  • Fully waterproof
Cons
  • Only USA coverage

  9   Family1st GPS Tracking Device

It’s a mini GPS tracker with 4G LTE to locate wandering or lost elderly.

Coverage: USA, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands Dimensions: 2.75 x 1.8 x 1.1’’ Weight: 3.68 ounces Tracking: 4G LTE + GPS + Wi-Fi Monthly Fee: $19-38

Family1st Compact Hidden Unlimited Real-Time Smallest GPS Tracker for Cars, Vehicles, Trucks, Loved Ones with App. Subscription Needed.

If you’re concerned about the elderly getting lost in unfamiliar places, the Family1st tracking device can be a great solution to save worry.

It uses GPS satellite technology in combination with a super-fast 4 LTE cellular network and Wi-Fi for both outdoor and indoor real-time location tracking. It requires a different monthly fee to opt for GPS tracking plans that offer location updates every 60, 28, 33, and 38 seconds. In addition to real-time tracking through the web and app, it also sends location and SOS alerts.

You can create 10 geofence boundaries for your aging loved ones. Receive an email or text when the tracker exits or enters the geo-fence area. You can pull up the reports feature to track history.

The device runs on a 600 mAh Li-Polymer built-in battery that offers up to 14 days of battery life. A portable, sleek design doesn’t require any installation. It’s easy to activate and setup. To track your vehicle, there’s an additional magnetic case that’s sold separately for easy and quick attachment to the car, truck, bike, etc. Thanks to the 24/7 customer support, you can reach Family1st any time of the day. Also, this handy location tracker is backed with a lifetime warranty.

Pros
  • Geo-fence
  • SOS alerts
  • Great cellular coverage
  • Standby mode conserves battery life
Cons
  • No Bluetooth

  10   Lively Wearable2 Mobile Medical Alert

It’s a wearable GPS wristband with fitness tracker features.

Coverage: US nationwide Dimensions: 1.4 x 1.3 x 0.55’’ Weight: 0.7 ounces Tracking: GPS, Bluetooth Monthly Fee: $24.9

Lively Wearable2 Mobile Medical Alert for Smartphones

Lively Wearable2 is a great option for seniors to stay secure and safe using the mobile medical alert device. It’s the safety and health service that you can access from the wrist. Wearable2 low-profile and comfortable design doesn’t cause any discomfort. Lively Wearable2 provides a fast and reliable way to call for help. All you have to do download the Lively App by GreatCall on your smartphone. Connect the Wearable2 with iOS/android phone via Bluetooth pairing.

In the event of emergency or uncertain situations, the elderly can simply push the button that connects the user to GreatCall’s IAED-certified Urgent Response agent to assist with 24/7 help. Moreover, if your smartphone is out of audible range due to some reason, the highly-trained Urgent response agent can still track location to quickly send help. Additionally, there’s an optional GreatCall link app that notifies your loved ones when an Urgent response is contacted.

Since most senior falls happen in the slippery shower and tub, Lively Wearable2 is water-resistant and an automatic fall detection feature is available when worn with a lanyard. It will instantly call for help if the elderly falls anywhere. Not just this, it’s a fitness tracker as well. Wearble2 has a step tracker; a pedometer that measures daily steps taken to ensure active health. Best of all, it features a long-lasting battery for up to 6 months.

Pros
  • Comfortable to wear
  • IAED certified response agents
  • Step tracker
  • Automatic fall detection
Cons
  • Fall detection not available without a lanyard

Need for GPS tracker for Elderly

Seniors suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and other sensory problems could get lost wandering away from their homes. Weak or diminished memory makes it not know how to get back home. Those with elderly family members or friends are well-aware that wandering, falling, and getting lost are the biggest threats to the safety of aging adults. These concerns can be minimized using a GPS tracker for the elderly. Research-based studies show that 6 out of 10 people with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease will wander away from home at some point. That is when a GPS tracker comes in handy and useful.

To put it in simple words, you can keep a virtual eye on seniors to make sure they are safe and secure while still giving them independence. This real-time tracking allows you to find them if they get lost. If they fail to come home, you know exactly where to search.

GPS Trackers for Seniors Buying Guide

Before you invest in a GPS tracker for your senior member of the family, consider some of the following things.

·       GPS Tracker types

The basic type of GPS trackers is standalone that features a durable plastic body or aluminum casing. They are compact, lightweight, and portable to fit them anywhere; purse, pocket, luggage, wallet, etc. You can also attach them via a lanyard or belt clips included.

GPS trackers are also available within waterproof smartwatches or wrist bands. This type is known as wearable. What makes them great is they are comfortable to wear and often smartwatch and fitness features such as pedometer and calories counter. However, some patients simply don’t want to wear bracelet-type GPS trackers.

There is GPS footwear as well; GPS in the shoes of the elderly. These specially designed shoes have a miniature GPS tracker embedded in the heels. The shoes could help ensure dementia patients get home safely. On the downside, GPS footwear is expensive as compared to GPS wristbands and devices. However, if a pair of GPS shoes can help your elderly family member stay active, independent, and safe, many might think that the $300-400 dollars price tag is worth it. Thanks to the advanced technology, there are now smart soles with integrated GPS.

·       Indoor and outdoor tracking

For real-time outdoor tracking, most reliable trackers use a combination of fast 4G LTE, GPS, and Bluetooth which sends location coordinates to the monitoring station. The caregiver will then have a link to an online map showing the person’s route and precise location. For the most reliable and up-to-date real-time tracking, a combination of all 3 tracking sources is a must for worldwide coverage. However, most of the GPS trackers often don’t work indoors. For great GPS tracking indoors, look for trackers with Wi-Fi.  GPS trackers with built-in Wi-Fi works to track the indoor locations when the elderly are inside the house. This is a practical feature as GPS satellite technology can have a connection error indoors resulting in poor indoor tracking.

Make sure not to put the GPS tracking device in a glove box or a closed console box because this could interfere with the tracking signals and give a false location.

·       SOS function

Dementia patients roaming and wandering are open to emergencies. So, look for a GPS tracker that offers SOS alerts in case of a risky situation or emergency. The button should be large and visible so an aging adult can press it to alert trusted contact or emergency services.

·       2-way talk

A 2-way talk feature is great to have. A GPS tracker with a build-in assistive speaker and microphone allows sending voice commands and talk to the caregiver during an emergency. It lets family members communicate and know if the elderly are doing fine.

·       Fall-detection

An automated fall detection feature is another must-have in a GPS tracker for seniors with dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, or seizures. Some might forget or not be able to press the SOS button during accidental falls on the road or inside the home. So, automatic fall detection features send alerts to caregiver and family members when the device experience impact.

·       Geo-fence

Safe parameters can be programmed with a geofence function that alerts caregiver or family members with dementia patients if their loved one wanders outside the local familiar surroundings. The elderly can go to the grocery store, coffee shop, or park.

·       Monthly Fee

Most of the GPS trackers with LTE 4G cellular networks tend to have pricey monthly subscription. Also, a quicker location update after every 5 seconds require a high fee subscription plan of $30-40 per month. Opt for the most budget-friendly options with reliable GPS coverage. If you don’t want the hassle of monthly payments, you can always go for yearly contracts.

Wrap up

With the popularity of GPS tracking, there are lots of different styles of GPS trackers available to meet your needs. Make sure your aging loved ones stay safe, secure, and protected on the go.

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