I was thinking Mr. Esther and I would enjoy some sort of GPS system for our little trips. So. I Googled: GPS system for seniors. I got: a system for tracking seniors. Do they put a tracking chip beneath the skin of the old folks like the vet does for family pets? I reckon we are family pets but Really! Can't decide whether to pursue that search or not. I would like to have something in the car to alert us to locked-up traffic jams or when to get in the turn lane. Don't want something so complicated that we can't figure it out. Maybe a chip to keep track of us is a good idea. Polly
Do you have a cell phone? If you do, are you aware that it might have the GPS available on it? Ours is a Verizon and we can get GPS for just a day, or permanently. I'm not up on all this and I would need to go to the Verizon store to get it arranged and not just call them. Or I could just ask my son! Barbara in SC
When I got a new phone last summer I got a Nokia Smart Phone, because they come with free maps. I've used it on roads (driving/ walking) in Denmark, England and various places in Eastern US. I download the maps at home, and can use them abroad without the phone being online or transmitting data on the phone net - so the useage is free (unlike some phones that can only use maps online, which can get very expensive without an all-inclusive data plan).
However, it does not (nor do any of the other phone navigation systems as far as I know) do live traffic updates and such. For that you will need a system meant for driving - they typically also have better lane display and stuff like that.
My personal favourite make is Garmin, but many of my British friends (rather Americans in the UK) swear by TomTom.
The senior tracking system uses bracelets, normally. They may give people with dementia a more free life, knowing that they will be easy to find if they do wander.
I have a TOM TOM brand GPS and love it. It's very easy to use and has only gotten me lost once in 5 years. For some strange reason, it sent me to a field when it was supposed to be a quilt store. I told the shop owner about the mistake and she said that everyone with a GPS went to that field. Luckily it was less than a mile away from the store.
My cell phone is an antique and doesn't have apps.
Polly, we, too, have the TomTom and would also highly recommend it. The thing I like most about it is that when you miss a turn or intentionally go a different way it doesn't shout 'recalculating' at you! It just tells you what to do next as if you had followed it's last instruction to the T. I think I paid about $175 for it 3-4 years ago. That said, was just talking to SIL about this the other day. They bought a Garmin a couple of years ago at BestBuy. Bought the protection plan. The Garmin pooped out for whatever reason. The nice little lady at the store no longer had the same model, so upgraded them and they paid a nominal charge. That one pooped out. Another trip to BestBuy and that model also was no longer available. They ended up with one that had free lifetime map updates and traffic alerts. The unit would have cost about $450 but they paid far less (under $100 due to protection plans - including the new protection plan). Don't know about traffic info on the TomTom - I think it's an extra monthly charge. DH works 2 blocks from home and I'm not currently working so traffic wasn't an issue for us. If I understood DH correctly, we can get map 'updates' by downloading 'map corrections'.
Magellan is another manufacturer but when I was doing research they really didn't have much to offer for the $$. TomTom, at the time, had the most features for the $$. If you look at those 3 brands that will be more than enough to confuse even the most tech savvy person into next year.
Do you have traffic jams much in the swamp? I use auto club maps. Everyone laughs when I pull one out but they always work for me. Never out of batteries or giving wrong directions.
If you read the Stefanie Plum books you know that Ranger keeps a tracking device on her cars. That way he can show up every time one gets blown up. lol The chips in the dogs here don't actually track them just id when they are read. They don?t let me out enough to bother with tracking. Taria
I was thinking Mr. Esther and I would enjoy some sort of GPS system for our little trips. So. I Googled: GPS system for seniors. I got: a system for tracking seniors. Do they put a tracking chip beneath the skin of the old folks like the vet does for family pets? I reckon we are family pets but Really! Can't decide whether to pursue that search or not. I would like to have something in the car to alert us to locked-up traffic jams or when to get in the turn lane. Don't want something so complicated that we can't figure it out. Maybe a chip to keep track of us is a good idea. Polly
I haven't trusted the things since one told the driver to hang a right while going through a tunnel underneath Chesapeake bay. Just driving home last Sunday kiri's tried to insist that the best way home was to go to Canada. I suppose if you like an exciting life and can afford the gas they might be fun. (G)
I like maps better than disembodied voices.
The police department keeps sending us info about chipping Ash. Apparently you can chip people like a puppy, but what they most recommend is that you get the ones that go in shoes.
Like some of the others, we use maps (via AAA). But when you're on the highway, look for signs posted along the road giving a radio station to tune into for traffic reports (accidents/traffic jams/road closures). It's helped us a few times and is current info. Just my 2 cents worth.... cheaper than a Tom-Tom ME-Judy
I may need tracking soon. Yesterday I called the awning store and asked them to come replace the awnings on the west side of our home. If 'awning' is not an around the world noun - it's just a sort of canvas bonnet/roof over glass windows or doors to protect from fierce sun and rain. The nice man there remembered our address, said he'd be by soon and asked for our phone number. I had no idea. I don't ever call me. Why would I do that? Our Yorkie QI wears a tag with our phone number on it in case he escapes so the finder can call us. If I don't get a tracking device for seniors, maybe I at least need to start wearing a tag. Would 18 karat gold be pretentious? Would 14 be better? Polly
When I got a new phone last summer I got a Nokia Smart Phone, because they come with free maps. I've used it on roads (driving/ walking) in Denmark, England and various places in Eastern US. I download the maps at home, and can use them abroad without the phone being online or transmitting data on the phone net - so the useage is free (unlike some phones that can only use maps online, which can get very expensive without an all-inclusive data plan).
However, it does not (nor do any of the other phone navigation systems as far as I know) do live traffic updates and such. For that you will need a system meant for driving - they typically also have better lane display and stuff like that.
My personal favourite make is Garmin, but many of my British friends (rather Americans in the UK) swear by TomTom.
The senior tracking system uses bracelets, normally. They may give people with dementia a more free life, knowing that they will be easy to find if they do wander.
No, Taria, there are no traffic jams here in the Swamp - but to get to our most best favorite vacation place - the Smokey Mountains - we must go through Birmingham, Atlanta and/or Chattanooga. ( Those guys Invented traffic jams.) We tried a non-city route once and it took about 8 days to get there. I love Love Stefanie Plum. If I remembered how, I would lust after Ranger. Polly
Lucy (my GPS) is one of my very best friends. DH bought me one for my birthday about 5 years ago. He didn't see me roll my eyes, but I couldn't have cared less about having a GPS in my car. I usually printed out MapQuest maps if I was going to a new place & whenever I got lost, I would just call DH & ask him to get me on the correct path. Just before he gifted me with Lucy, he bought a new car & decided not to trade in his old car, so I drove the old car home. I stopped to run an errand (we were about 75 miles from home). Thanks goodness for cell phones, because the first time I called him to make sure I was going the right way, I was headed to Los Angeles, instead of San Francisco Bay Area. So, the 2nd time I called him, I was headed to Sacramento, instead of Danville. I guess my husband thought a GPS was going to be a winner of a gift for me. So, after about 12 hours of owning Lucy, I started to fall in love!
We both have GPS's now (both on our 2nd models). We find we are more inclined to explore things if we are in an unfamiliar area - we can ask Lucy for a good lunch spot or the nearest gas station or the nearest dog park, etc. It's a source of so much information. I have the capability on my smart phone as well, but I think the GPS is probably safer, because it talks and the screen is larger & did I mention that I'm in love with Lucy:)
They are soooooooooooo much cheaper now - you just need to go to a store that carries several different models & see which one feels best to you - sort of like buying a new sewing machine!
I love my Prius too.....but we use a Garmin Nuvi GPS, and wouldn't be without it! When we were in Italy last month, we rented a car with a GPS...so much better than me having a lapful of maps!!! It was set for English AND kilometers.
I think I still remember how but my dh would probably frown on the idea. Probably a good think Ranger is not real. I am glad they let you out occasionally. They are cautious with me. : ) Taria
No, Taria, there are no traffic jams here in the Swamp - but to get to our most best favorite vacation place - the Smokey Mountains - we must go through Birmingham, Atlanta and/or Chattanooga. ( Those guys Invented traffic jams.) We tried a non-city route once and it took about 8 days to get there. I love Love Stefanie Plum. If I remembered how, I would lust after Ranger. Polly
We use a Garmin Nuvi. I love it. The disembodied voice I chose is a male Ausie voice. I just love to listen to "Lee" talking. We live in Washington state so the state highways are WA520, etc. The first time Lee said to take Western Austrailia 5 hundred and twenty, I just about laughed myself silly. Last week my DS and DDIL were visiting and I loaned them Lee. DDIL's TomTom got confused but Lee came through for them like a champ. Crossing the Puget Sound on a ferry is pretty interesting with a GPS to see your car floating in the water. Polly, you crack me up. If you decide to get gold for your chip, I'd use 18K or a nice diamond in your front tooth. Unique but not too showy. Donna in Belleve WA (not Western Austrailia)
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