I Lost My Dad for Seven Hours—Until This Tracker Came Home

My phone rang at 11 AM. I was at work, ready for my lunch break—until my sister’s voice hit me He’s gone. Grandpa’s disappeared.

My dad, 82 with memory issues, had walked out of the care home and vanished. No phone, no sense of direction. Emergency services were searching, but time froze for me. That afternoon, I dashed home, found this mini magnetic GPS tracker people in a dementia support group said had made a difference—even when loved ones wandered far. I ordered it fast.

That’s the one everyone recommended—I needed it before another hour passed

Day two, I clipped it to Dad’s belt and set up the app. We strolled around the estate, trying it out. When his battery died an hour later, I saw his movement—he’d gone off-route toward the car park. It felt like being mid-panic…and suddenly not. Since then, if he heads out and I don’t hear from him within five minutes, I open the app. I see his blue dot—moving, resting—and I feel calm.

If someone you love can’t always remember where they are, this gave me peace I didn’t know was possible

How to Use It — And Why It Matters

1. Charge it fully, then slip it into a pocket, belt loop, or bag—wherever your loved one won’t mind it.

2. Turn on the tracker, open the companion app, and pair it via Bluetooth or QR code.

3. Set up a safe zone (home, daycare, familiar park).

4. Activate real-time tracking — the app updates every minute.

5. Enable geofence alerts — when Dad steps outside the zone, you get silent notifications.

6. Use privacy settings to control who can view location, so it’s respectful and secure.

This isn’t just a gadget—it’s a lifeline. It’s not about surveillance, but giving autonomy with safety. You’re not invading their space—you’re giving them freedom and giving yourself a safety net.