The Tranquil GPS Watch is our pick for the best GPS tracker for dementia because it was clearly designed to accommodate common dementia symptoms.
For example, people with dementia sometimes remove other devices, like medical alert necklaces, because they don't remember what the device is for and they perceive it to be a nuisance. Of course, it's impossible to track someone once they remove their tracker. To address this, the Tranquil Watch features a locking strap that can only be undone with a special key.
But that's just the tip of the iceberg. Below, we'll highlight other unique features we love about the Tranquil Watch.
The Tranquil Watch was designed by someone with first-hand experience caring for a family member with dementia, and their compassion and knowledge shines through in its design.
For starters, the Tranquil Watch is the only GPS tracker on the market that can instantly alert caregivers to a potential home exit. The watch uses Bluetooth to connect to "beacons" scattered around the home. Bluetooth devices can only connect to each other when they're no more than 33 feet apart, so when the Tranquil Watch gets too far away from a beacon, the Bluetooth connection breaks and an alert goes out via call, text, or email.
This quiet alert system prevents the person from dementia from being startled by a loud noise like an alarm. Sometimes noises can cause greater confusion and agitation in someone with dementia, so this is yet another thoughtful design from the Tranquil team.
A second layer of protection is available through geofencing or safe zones. Geofencing allows you to put a digital boundary around your home and to receive alerts whenever the Tranquil Watch crosses that boundary. The drawback of geofencing is that the boundary's radius can be about 10 times longer than the Bluetooth beacon's radius, and false alarms are more likely.
In many other devices, a safe zone notification would be the first alert a caregiver would get, and by that time the person with dementia could be more than a 100 feet away from the house. We like the Tranquil Watch's Bluetooth alerts because they're so much faster, but geofencing alerts are a nice backup.
In the event your loved one gets lost while wearing the Tranquil Watch, you can track their location in real time through the app and place a two-way audio call to the watch. The call is automatically picked up so you can talk to your loved one or to someone who may be attempting to assist them.
The Tranquil Watch battery lasts about one week, which is impressive for this kind of device. It's completely waterproof, so there's no need to remove the device for showering or bathing.
Finally, we have to mention the overall look of this watch. It's absolutely classic and looks nothing like other wearable devices for seniors. In fact, your loved one may already have a watch that looks just like it. This familiar design means it's less likely to cause confusion for someone with dementia. It comes in four colors, including rose gold, so you can choose something that suits their style.
The Tranquil GPS Watch ships to you for free in two days and has a 12-month warranty plus a 30-day risk-free trial.
Our team tested the Tranquil Watch's reliability and ease of use. Our tester set it up, wore it 24/7, used the app, and set off alerts.
As it turns out, the watch is pre-programmed before it ships, so setting it up couldn't be any easier. And although it looks large, the watch is actually lightweight and comfortable enough to sleep in. Indoor GPS tracking was hit or miss, but that tends to be the case with all of the GPS trackers we've tested over the years—and one of the reasons we love the Tranquil Watch's use of Bluetooth. If you had to depend solely on GPS data and geofencing, you might get a lot of false alarms.
One big thing that's missing from the Tranquil Watch is fall detection. However, we get the impression this watch is designed for people who need a significant amount of in-home dementia care. If they were to fall, an in-home caregiver should be able to help them right away. In contrast, fall detection devices are designed for people who often spend time alone.
Learn more in our full Tranquil Watch review.