Safer Walking GPS Locator

PRODUCT STAR RATING (out of 5 stars): 4 out of 5 stars

"I toyed with the rating a lot.

The rating does not accurately reflect the Safer Walking GPS Locator's ability. The Locator is 5 out of 5. Accurate, straightforward, easy to set up and easy to use. The service provided, should you have a glitch, is 5 out of 5. I cannot fault the Locator itself.

BUT we are talking about someone with dementia. Like any product I need to take with me, it is only helpful if I remember to take it with me when I leave home. I feel this is a big enough problem to warrant the 4-star rating.

Despite the 4-star rating, I recommend the Safer Walking GPS Locator!!"

Wandering, falls, and not knowing where your loved one is are real issues when it comes to dementia. The Safer Walking GPS Locator helps to overcome these issues without being intrusive or having the feeling that you are being tracked.

For me, as a person living with dementia, I find it comforting to know that I can get assistance when I need it the most, should I find myself in a difficult situation or lost. I don’t think about being tracked, and my family don’t track me unless they need to, or I push the SOS button. You can also set Zones that let you go to certain places without notifying anyone, or you can choose to have the app notify your loved ones of your location in the settings. You set the boundaries in the settings.

The instructions are simple to follow, and the Safer Walking GPS Locator is easy to set up, as are the Zones and settings.

That said, I did have some technical issues with my setup. But I’ll say this, the technical support I received was excellent, first-class service. For some technical reason, the Locator would not track my movements. I contacted Story & Sons and explained the problem. The issue was corrected remotely, and the Locator was reset, allowing it to function correctly. I received several emails afterwards to verify that the Locator was working correctly. So, from a service level, you are in good hands.

Each tracking device has its own sim card and mobile number. The app is downloaded onto your loved one’s phone using the Mobile number and identification number on the back of the device. I will stress again that the Mobile number and identification number are unique to the Locator. No one else can track you unless they have the app, and you give them these numbers. Privacy is then in your hands.

The app is easy to use, and setting up notifications is simple. The app shows the pin on a map and is accurate to about 2 meters.

Your loved one can simply open the app to track your location. Should I get into difficulties whilst alone, I can push the SOS button on my device. This sends a message to your loved one’s phone. If you have ringtone volume on your phone, it will be a loud ring that comes through. If it is on vibration, an SOS message appears on your phone. You can even have the app connect to your smart watch, and it will send the SOS call to your watch as well as your phone.

Your loved one then phones the Locator through the app. It automatically connects to the Locator, and you can speak to me. Yes, talk to me through the Locator. I was surprised at how clear it was. There are volume buttons on the Locator. I could hear my wife very clearly. This is an excellent addition to the Locator. Whilst my loved one is tracking my precise location, they can also reassure me. Staying on the line until they get to me. If needed, the emergency services can be called and sent to my precise location.

The Locator is small, light, and easy to manage. It can fit in your pocket, be attached to your keys, or be worn around your neck (it comes with a strap). I appreciate that the SOS button is in a contrasting colour to the device.

The Locator needs to be charged, but it lasts about 6 days if not used much on a single charge. I suggest charging it at night and leaving it in the charging station until you need it. That way, it is always charged when you need it most. The Safer Walking GPS Locator notifies you when it needs charging and when it is charging.

Now I have tried a few Locators, and I can honestly say this is one of the better ones. One of the more accurate ones, and the ability to speak through the Locator is excellent.

I have tried some free apps that you can get. I found them to be inaccurate and intermittent. I have yet to find a free one that works the way I want.

Others on the market can be rather expensive. You can have an initial cost and a monthly cost of around £ 20- £30.

The Safer Walking GPS Locator has an initial cost of £ 12.99 and a monthly cost of £12.99. This is a much cheaper monthly cost. The monthly fee covers mobile network connectivity and app maintenance, which I think is reasonable for my peace of mind.

As brilliant and as accurate as the Safer Walking GPS Locator is, there is a problem you will have to overcome. Dementia being dementia means that when I go out, I sometimes forget my wallet, my keys, my phone, and would do the same with the Locator. This means you would have to do your best to ensure that the Locator is on me when I leave my home.  I have heard about people putting the charger next to the key area so it can be charged while attached to the keys. Others have put a checklist on the inside of the door to remind them of what they need before leaving.

I must admit this is a big problem for the Safer Walking GPS Locator, because no matter how good it is, if I don’t have it on me, it won’t work for my loved ones or me. This has been fed back to Story & Sons, and they are working hard to fix it – perhaps a wristband that can be worn at all times.

If you can overcome the problem mentioned above, it is an excellent Locator and one I will certainly recommend