In Japan, people with dementia are now outfitted with barcodes

Barcodes are designed to help stray dementia patients go home
People with dementia usually suffer not only from memory loss, but also from a changed sense of spatial orientation. It therefore often happens that Alzheimer's patients get lost. In Japan, they have now found a way to help those affected quickly home. This is made possible by a mini sticker with a barcode.

Disorientation in Alzheimer's patients
There are currently around 1.5 million people with dementia in Germany, most of whom have Alzheimer's disease. There are almost 47 million dementia patients worldwide. But the number keeps rising. According to the Alzheimer's report, another dementia diagnosis is added every 3.2 seconds worldwide. Alzheimer's patients also show disorientation in addition to memory loss. They get lost easily. A city in Japan has now found a way to help stray dementia patients get home quickly.

Dementia patients show in addition to the loss of memory also a disorientation. They get lost easily. A city in Japan has now found a way to help lost seniors quickly back home. (Image: Peter Maszlen / fotolia.com)

Older people receive stickers with QR codes
There, older people stick mini-stickers with QR codes on their toenails or toenails where an individual identity number is stored, according to news agency AFP. It is said that police can use these scannable labels to assign people who have lost their way to an administration. According to the social services of the city of Iruma (north of Tokyo), this then helps to find the relatives.

According to the information, the service is free and a first in Japan. A city employee explained to the news agency that similar stickers for clothing or shoes already exist, but people with dementia do not always wear the same clothes, just like any other person. Hence the idea with the stickers for foot or fingernails.

The new one-centimeter QR codes will last for about two weeks, even if they get wet.

Fast aging society
Japanese society is aging at a rapid pace. By 2060, those over 65 would account for around 40 percent of the population. The number of those who can take care of the elderly is shrinking. In many countries, the health system is not adequately focused on dementia.

Another problem in Japan is the rising number of fatal accidents involving older drivers. Around 4.8 million over 75-year-olds still have their driver's license there. The police have already devised various means to get them to give up their driving license. For example, in Aichi Prefecture, she recently introduced a 90 yen (75 cents) discount on noodle soups in a chain of restaurants for those retiring voluntarily. (Ad)