GTX Corp recently delivered its first shipment of these advanced tracking shoes to Aetrex, a shoe company that first came up with the idea of shoes imbedded with a tracking device after Elizabeth Smart went missing from her home in 2002. Originally designed to help missing children, many have seen the shoe’s potential in helping those suffering from Alzheimer’s dementia, a disease characterized by a tendency to wander and a desire to return to a childhood home.

Approximately 5 million Americans have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, and the worldwide cost for caring for dementia patients is $604 billion. These are overwhelming statistics that can burden the caregivers trying to protect and nurture their loved ones. Certified by the FCC (Federal Communications Commission), the GPS tracking system used in these shoes may help bring peace of mind to those caring for someone with dementia; more importantly, the shoes can help authorities locate a wanderer more quickly. Studies have shown that almost half of critical wanderers not found within 24 hours die.

In light of the alarming statistics and their anticipated growth rate with the aging population, $300 a pair seems a small price to pay for the safety of these patients who, through no fault of their own, are no longer able to care for themselves. The buyer is able to put the system in the heel of any pair of shoes and then set up the monitoring perimeters and an alert system so that when the wearer leaves a designated area, the caregiver is immediately notified and able to locate the person in a timely fashion. The shoes are probably most crucial to those in the early stages of Alzheimer’s, those who still live at home somewhat independently but are beginning to wander or get lost on routine errands; however, even those living in a long-term care facility are known to wander and escape.

The benefits of Aetrex’s GPS enabled shoes for Alzheimer’s patients are clearly seen, and the potential for recovering missing children cannot be underestimated. Some even advocate the use of such technology for prostitutes. In this day and age, it would be hard to comprehend anyone who could not benefit from the technology of GPS tracking.