Help me keep my Grandparents safe

[Gregchico]

My Grandparents are both 80+, but still like taking walks for exercise. The problem is that they go at different times then each other, and I would rate their health at 95%. I say 95% as normally there is no falls or problems on their walks, but Grandma has fallen down twice in the last few years and nobody knew where to look for her or even that she needed help. It is not uncommon for them to take a different route then planned if they see something of interest.

My idea is to get them both a Garmin Rino 120 so they have a GPS locator and a radio if they need it.

http://www.amazon.com/Garmin-Rino-120-2-Way-Radio/dp/B000065DQ2/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1256226061&sr=8-2

Does anybody else have any ideas on how to let them have their freedom, but still have a good way to keeping tabs on them? I want to help keep them safe and maintain their free sprits.

[Brianguy]

Get em a cell phone with gps tracking. I know verizon has the tracking option. Just log on the website and see where theyre at!

[JDay]

Look into getting them PLBs (Personal Locator Beacons). The advantage of these is that they work anywhere in the world. A little expensive but pays for itself the first time its needed. Just make sure you get the ones in the 406mhz range as the old system has been deactivated.

http://www.marineboatsupplies.com/revere-fast-find-with-p-11487.html

For something a little cheaper that allows your to be tracked over the web you can get a SPOT Satellite Messenger for $99 + subscripton. The nice thing about this is that you can setup a list of contacts to be notified in an emergency. These can be picked up at REI.

http://www.findmespot.com/en/

[Dekker]

Will they remember to bring it? Will they remember even how to use it? We got my 76yr grandmother a simple cell phone and she rarely remembers to bring it with her, and when she does she doesn't remember how to use it. Useful for CALLING her since all she has to do is open the top and it's ready to go. It's not a fancy iPhone type either, it's as simple and as basic as it gets and she still can't get it. Something like that Garmin might just confuse the hell out of them, and even if you teach it to them there's no guarantee it's gonna stick. They might accidentally press something which might open up a menu or a different screen and well.....it's over.

[JDay]

Will they remember to bring it? Will they remember even how to use it? We got my 76yr grandmother a simple cell phone and she rarely remembers to bring it with her, and when she does she doesn't remember how to use it. Useful for CALLING her since all she has to do is open the top and it's ready to go. It's not a fancy iPhone type either, it's as simple and as basic as it gets and she still can't get it. Something like that Garmin might just confuse the hell out of them, and even if you teach it to them there's no guarantee it's gonna stick. They might accidentally press something which might open up a menu or a different screen and well.....it's over.

Look at the stuff I posted, simple one button operation. IIRC, the SPOT can even be remotely activated in an emergency.

[Gregchico]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys.

They sacked all the ideas so far and now don't want to push any buttons to activate the system.
My idea now is a PASS system and hope/pray for the kindness of strangers (or somebody being annoyed so much by the noise to check it out).

http://www.bsttechnologies.net/index.aspx?Command=GroupInfo&GroupID=1705