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Elderly dementia patients could be tagged

ELDERLY people suffering from dementia could be tagged and have their movements monitored by satellite to give them and their carers more freedom, it has emerged.

Malcolm Wicks, the science minister, suggested the technology used to track criminals could also help families to keep tabs on frail or elderly relatives.

His proposals drew a mixed response from campaigners and politicians, who were divided between support on the grounds that it would give both families and the elderly more freedom and fears that it was an extension of the creeping surveillance of society. There were also concerns that the government was trying to address the pressures of an ageing population and the rising costs of dementia - which cost the state 17 billion a year - by using “inhumane” electronic tags.

But campaigners warned that the proposal could raise ethical questions, such as how a person with advanced dementia or Alzheimer’s could be capable of giving informed consent to be tagged.

Mr Wicks told MPs that the idea of using satellite monitoring to benefit society should be discussed.

“We’ve got an ageing population with many people frail and many suffering from dementia, including Alzheimer’s. How can we get the balance right so that these people have the freedom to live their lives, to go out in the community and go shopping?”

A spokesman for the Alzheimer’s Society said electronic tagging could ease concern for carers, but warned: “Technology, which is often used to ’secure’ animals, retail products and prisoners, should not automatically be transferred to people with dementia without full consideration of the ethical issues.”

Joe Harris, the general secretary of the National Pensioners’ Convention, said it was “shocking” to replace dignified care with an “inhumane” electronic tag.

Kate Jopling, of Help the Aged, said that at first glance the proposal smacked of “big brother”. But she said the potential of new technology to help vulnerable older people live more independent lives should not be dismissed.

However, Shami Chakrabarti, a director of Liberty, warned of “gimmicks” designed to replace expensive care.