Caregiving for persons with dementia has advanced with new high-tech wristbands that use NFC technology. These wristbands can help locate vulnerable individuals if they go missing.
Each wristband contains important information about the wearer, such as their name, age, hometown, and next of kin details like name and phone number.
The Dementia Safeguarding Scheme is a national scheme in the UK in connection with the Herbert Protocol, uses NFC wristbands and other products to help vulnerable individuals with dementia. These wristbands and NFC keycards help find missing persons. They provide contact details for their family members or next of kin.
The Herbert Protocol is a national program. It helps carers, family, or friends of vulnerable people. They can fill out a form with important information. This information is useful if the person goes missing.
It contains a list of information to help the police if the person goes missing, including:
When a vulnerable person goes missing, this information can be quickly sent to the police. This helps them get important details during a stressful time. It also reduces the time it takes for the police to gather this information.
They named the initiative after George Herbert, a war veteran of the Normandy landings who lived with dementia. George Herbert died whilst 'missing', trying to find his childhood home.
In 2020, Inspector Stuart King reached out to Seritag. He wanted to create NFC-integrated wristbands, hangtags, and lanyards. These items would help vulnerable people with dementia.
These products have a bright yellow color and a QR code. The code links to a video tutorial on using NFC. Together, they have made a big impact on the community.
The scheme aims to provide reassurance to those with dementia and their families. Inspector Stuart King runs the program with help from donations and support from stakeholders. He manages it while doing his police work and continues to oversee it at the Office of the PPC.
The Avon and Somerset Dementia Safeguarding Scheme stands as a shining example of proactive, community-focused policing. With an impressive 93% success rate, the scheme showcases the power of partnerships and the value of front-line police experience in driving change. As of November 2023, the latest figures reveal that only 7% of individuals enrolled in the scheme went missing, affirming its effectiveness.
All products (excluding the lanyard) are integrated with a genuine NXP NFC tag NTAG215, which can be encoded with key information about the wearer and their next of kin.
If you would like to purchase these products please follow this link here. Alternatively if you would like to receive a specialist quote or further details on your own project please contact us at hello@seritag.com
The success of the project has been recognized by the BBC, including coverage from BBC's Crimewatch, BBC News, and NFCW. The project has achieved great success, with local community members directly experiencing its benefits.
The impact of this project has extended far beyond Avon and Somerset, reaching other regions where Reunite operates. We are now collaborating with additional police departments, such as Argyll and Bute Scotland Police, Staffordshire Police, Lincolnshire Police, and Surrey Police.
We hope this initiative continues to grow, providing reassurance and comfort to those living with dementia or caring for them, knowing their loved ones can be safely returned home if they go missing.
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