Is big brother watching you? Responding to tagging and tracking in dementia care

Abstract

The increased availability of assistive technologies, particularly tagging and tracking technology, raises questions for occupational therapists working in dementia care. As experts in environmental adaptation to support participation, occupational therapists need to be clear about what technologies are available to address wandering behaviour, how emerging technologies will be used in their practice, and how they will proactively respond to the ethical issues involved in these technologies. Their use within ethical, person-centred practice will ensure that big brother is not watching, but rather supporting independent functioning in the person’s own home.