Technology that helps

The right gadget can make dementia care a little easier. A pill dispenser can beep at dose time. A tracker can help you find someone who gets lost. A phone with picture buttons can help a parent call you.

But no device keeps a person safe on its own. Each tool also raises fair questions about cost, privacy and dignity. This page walks through the main kinds of technology, what each can and cannot do, and how to choose with the person, not just for them.

Start with the person, not the gadget

Before you buy anything, write down the one or two problems that worry you most. Missed medicines? Leaving the house at night? Scam calls? Then look for the simplest tool for that problem.

Then keep these points in mind:

• Ask the person. Choose things they feel comfortable with or can learn. The technology should fit the person, not the other way around.³ It often helps to start early, while learning something new is easier.
• Get their agreement. Explain what a tracker or monitor does and who will see the information.³ If the person can no longer decide, choose what is really in their best interest, and still include them as much as possible.³
• Keep people in the picture. Technology should not replace face-to-face visits.³
• Plan for change. Needs change as dementia moves forward. Renting or buying used equipment can save money while you learn what works.³

If the person is still able, they can write down their wishes about monitoring and devices as part of advance care planning.³

What does the research show?

Families often hope technology will help a person stay home longer. One large trial is more sobering. In England, 495 people with dementia were split into two groups. One group got a full package of devices chosen after a needs check. The other group got only smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and a pendant alarm (a button worn on the body to call for help).⁵

After about two years, the full package did not help people stay home longer, and it did not save money. Quality of life, as rated by the people themselves, was a little lower in the full-package group. The study also found that devices were often not set up as planned.⁵ Limited research

This does not mean technology is useless. It means a big bundle of gadgets is not a magic answer. Choose a few tools for real needs, set them up well, and check that they still help.

Medicine reminders and dispensers

Missed doses and double doses are common problems in dementia. Technology can help, from very simple to quite advanced.² Everyday phones and apps can now do some jobs that once needed special products. For example, a phone calendar alarm can work as a medicine reminder.⁴

A 2025 review of medication dispensers for older adults living at home found some good signs. There was moderate evidence that dispensers helped blood pressure and blood sugar control. But strong proof of wider benefits was lacking, and the review looked at older adults in general, not only people with dementia.⁶ Limited research

A dispenser is only as safe as the person who fills it. Ask the pharmacist to help you load it or to supply bubble packs (pills sealed by dose). Keep all extra medicine locked away. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist before changing how or when any medicine is taken. For more, see managing medicines at home.

GPS trackers and help with wandering

People with dementia may walk away or get lost, even in familiar places. Read wandering and getting lost for why it happens and how to prevent it.

Location trackers. These come as watches, shoe inserts, pendants, key rings or phone apps. You can see the person's location on your own phone. Some send an alert when the person leaves a set area. Some have a help button or two-way talking.^1,2

Know the limits:

• No tracker is 100% accurate. Some work poorly indoors. Some show only a rough area. Weather can affect them.¹
• A tracker only works if it is charged and worn.
• Tracking is not a replacement for a companion. Use it along with other safety steps.¹

Door alarms and sensors. A chime that sounds when a door opens, or a pressure mat by the bed or door, can alert you when the person gets up at night.⁷ These do not record the person, which some families find more respectful than a camera.²

Programs that help bring people home:

• MedicAlert Safe & Found is run with the Alzheimer's Association. The person wears an engraved ID. If they are found, the finder calls a 24/7 line that connects them with family. If they go missing, MedicAlert can send alerts to local hospitals, police and emergency services. It works only with an active MedicAlert membership plan.⁸
• Project Lifesaver is run by local police or sheriff's offices that take part. The person wears a small wristband or ankle band that sends a radio signal. Trained searchers use that signal to find them. The program says searches typically take less than 30 minutes.⁹ Ask your local police or sheriff whether they offer it.

Cameras and sensors: safety and privacy

Cameras let you check on someone from work or far away. Doorbell cameras show who is at the door. Smart locks and smoke or leak alarms can text your phone.¹ This can bring peace of mind, especially for long-distance caregivers. But a camera in someone's home is a big step. Think first:

• Is a camera needed, or would a sensor do? Motion, door and bed sensors can show daily activity without filming the person.²
• Does the person know and agree? Weigh safety against privacy and independence. Respect their wishes as far as you can.^2,3
• Where will it go? Keep cameras out of bathrooms and bedrooms. Use them in shared spaces such as a kitchen or front door.
• Who can watch? Decide which family members can see the video and when. Many camera apps let you set this.¹⁰
• Do paid helpers know? Tell home care aides about any cameras.

About recording sound. Many cameras record audio as well as video. In Virginia, it is a crime to record a private conversation unless you are part of it or one person in it has agreed.¹² A camera that records talk between your parent and a visitor while you are away could run into this law. Other states have their own rules. If you are unsure, turn off audio recording or ask a lawyer.

Keep the camera secure. Internet cameras can be hacked. The Federal Trade Commission suggests these steps:¹⁰

1. Change the default password to a strong one you do not use anywhere else.
2. Turn on two-step login (a code sent to your phone) for the camera account if it is offered.
3. Turn on automatic updates for the camera and its app.
4. Use a strong password on your home Wi-Fi router.
5. Limit who can watch the video or change settings.

Simple phones and video calls

A regular smartphone, with its many screens and small icons, can become confusing as dementia moves forward.

• Simplified phones have a few large buttons. Some have photo buttons, so the person presses a picture of a daughter to call her.²
• Smartphones can be set up the same way, with a few favorite contacts as large pictures on the home screen.²
• Call blocking can let the phone ring only for saved numbers and block unknown callers.² This helps a lot with scam calls. Scammers may pretend to be a grandchild, a bank, Medicare or Social Security.¹ Read scams and financial abuse to learn more.
• Video calls on a tablet or phone let a person see faces they love. They need an internet connection.² Call at the same time each day, keep calls short, and have someone nearby help the person answer. See talking with someone who has dementia for phone and video call tips.

Help with the bill. The federal Lifeline program lowers phone or internet bills by up to $9.25 a month for people with low incomes or those on programs such as SNAP or Medicaid. You must renew it every year. Call 800-234-9473 for help (as of October 2026).¹¹

Smart speakers, clocks and reminders

Smart speakers (such as Amazon Alexa or Google devices) answer to spoken commands. A person can ask the time, play music, set a reminder, call family or turn on lights, all without pressing buttons.² Lights set on a schedule can help keep a daily routine steady.¹

Speakers tend to suit people who can still remember the wake word (the name you say to start it). They have privacy downsides too. The speaker is always listening for its wake word. Some people worry about what is recorded, how long it is kept and who can hear it.² Check the device's privacy settings, and delete recordings if you like.

Day clocks show the day, the date and whether it is morning or evening. Talking clocks say the time out loud.² They can help a person who asks the same question many times. See repeated questions for more ideas.

Which tool for which problem?

For more home changes, see making the home safer and preventing falls.

Getting help choosing and paying

Some devices cost money to buy and install.² Before you buy, ask:

• Is there a monthly fee or a contract?
• Does it need Wi-Fi, a cell signal or a landline?²
• How long does the battery last? Who will charge it?
• Can we return it if the person will not use it?

An occupational therapist (a professional who helps people with daily tasks) can suggest what fits the person.³ Ask the doctor for a referral. Your local Area Agency on Aging may know about programs near you. Find yours through the Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116.¹³ Keep a list of devices, logins and who is in charge of each in your care circle.

Is it wrong to track my parent without telling them?

It is best to talk it over with them first, while they can still take part. Explain what the device does and who can see the information.³ If they can no longer understand, choose what protects their safety and dignity, and use the least invasive tool that works.

My mother keeps taking off her GPS watch. What can I do?

Try a device she already wears or carries, such as a shoe insert, a pendant or a tracker on her keys.^1,2 Put it on as part of her morning routine. Also use other safety steps, such as door chimes and an ID bracelet.⁷

Does Medicare pay for these devices?

Do not assume a device is covered. Before you buy, ask your Medicare plan, your Medicaid office if the person has Medicaid, and your local Area Agency on Aging.¹³ See what Medicare covers in dementia.

Education only. This page is general information written from the sources listed. It is not medical, legal or financial advice and does not replace a doctor, therapist or lawyer who knows your situation. How we write and check pages.