Hello. I’m working for the NHS on a project aimed at digital equity and health outcomes. I’ve used Home Assistant myself at home, in a limited way via a Rpi5 set up.
I’m coming across lots of patients though work, who have dementia where their partners would like to be able to track them - for when they wander off - so they can be easily located. Or, at least get a reliable proximity alert.
We’ve looked at Apple Air Tags and other options such as Tile Premium but they only show the last known location, give an alert when going out of range and then become redundant. We prefer Open Source if possible and could install Rpi’s with Home Assistant if an automation existed. We could also ask the Developers Society to help code something if needs be.
There are options with SIM cards and subscriptions in them but, the project is aimed at digital equity and this includes affordability - not all can afford these extras.
Does anyone know of an integration or way that we may be able to offer alerts and GPS tracking (within a reasonable radius) if a sensor steps outside a defined area? And perhaps a free or low cost way to track it beyond this radius? If not, any ideas on how this may work, would also be gratefully received.
I don’t think there is anything open source that is a direct replacement for AirTags of Tiles because they leverage a well established low-power protocol connecting to a world-wide network of cell phones.
You may want to take a look at the LoRa-based Meshtastic project. I don’t think there are currently any compatible devices that can compete with AirTags on size or battery life, but there are a few that are quite portable like the SenseCAP T1000-E, WisMesh Pocket Mini, or Heltec “Capsule Sensor”; and new devices are coming out all the time. As I understand it, there are quite a few nodes in the UK. The folks on the Mpowered247 Discord group are very helpful, and could be a good resource for UK-specific information since they are located in Lancashire and cater to a mostly UK membership.
Have you think about LoRa ? I think it would be a great application for it. It allows very long ranges (easily few kilometers and even more if in backcountry), gateways are quite cheap and devices with GPS can be quite cheap and small with a battery
Do you “know” when they might wander off?
I mean is it when they are outside or do they always have the ability to walk away?
There are GPS trackers with GSM you can buy from China that has limited battery capacity.
These in combination with a Bluetooth tracker means you know when they left the close proximity and you can track them with the GPS on long range.
They are sometimes sold as pet trackers, sometimes as elderly trackers. And sometimes there is a female on the picture.
I believe it’s a culture thing.
I just googled one and it had 14 (Chinese) days battery.
That could mean about a week. Not sure what the conversion rate is.
