When wandering starts, independence doesn't have to end.
A safety insole that happens to hold GPS. Families already put shoes on every morning. No new habit, no bracelet to rip off, no stigma. Just the shoes they love, with peace of mind sewn into the arch.
"We wanted Mom to keep walking to the park. Now we breathe easier while she keeps her routine."
— Daughter of early-stage Alzheimer's family in Suffolk County, NY
7M+
Americans with Alzheimer's
60-70%
Will wander at least once
50%
Serious harm if not found in 24h
The reality families face
Wandering is not misbehaving. It is part of the disease, and it needs a plan that actually stays on.
7 Million
Americans live with Alzheimer's today
Alzheimer's Association projects 12.7M by 2050. Every one of those families will ask, how do we keep them safe at home?
6 in 10
Will wander at some point
Alzheimer's Association data. Often in the most familiar places: from home, during a bathroom trip, while a caregiver steps away for 30 seconds.
24 Hours
Changes everything
Search data shows risk of serious injury or death rises dramatically if not found quickly. Families can't watch 24/7, and locking doors creates guilt and isolation.
Why current options fail
"He ripped the watch off." Every family says it. Every facility logs it.
Wristbands and watches get removed
Unfamiliar weight, chirping, irritation, feeling tracked. A person with dementia who no longer recognizes a device will remove it, immediately.
Pendants get lost or left on the nightstand
If it requires a new habit, it fails when routine breaks. Morning confusion, sundowning, bathroom trips are exactly when wandering spikes.
Phones get left behind
Even for early-stage independence, phones die, get forgotten, and feel like surveillance, not support.
Locking doors creates guilt and accelerates loss
Care partners tell us: 'I promised I would keep him home, not lock him up.' Safety cannot come at the cost of dignity.
What families actually say
- "I can't watch her 24/7, but I can't not know where she is either."
- "We tried a bracelet. She said it was not hers and took it off."
- "He worked outside for 40 years. Telling him he can't walk now feels cruel."
A safety insole that happens to hold GPS. Put shoes on, forget it, keep independence.
Patented holder cavity molded under the arch, on the bottom side of the insole. No electronics at the factory, no gait change, no visible tech. The habit is already built.
Patented round holder slot — bottom side, under arch — does not affect gait
Patented holder molded in
Recessed circular cavity is added to existing insole tooling during manufacturing. Bottom side, waist/arch area. Comfort tested, no feel under foot.
iTag snaps in at home or retail
Small round Apple or Android compatible iTag clicks into place. No tools, no charging rituals at the factory. Replaceable battery lasts months.
$99/year monitoring with phone alerts
Set safe zones around home, adult day, memory care. Get call or text when they leave. Crowdsourced Bluetooth network relays location in populated areas.
Why families keep the insole and remove the wristband
For families
- Keep life at home longer — walks, park, mailbox, without hovering
- Sleep with less dread — alerts if door opens at night
- No arguments about 'wearing that thing' — shoes are already non-negotiable
- $99/year monitoring vs $7,000-10,000/month memory care after an incident forces placement
- Works in any shoe they love — sneakers, orthopedic, house shoes
For adult day & memory care
- Elopement = CMS F-tag F689 Immediate Jeopardy — fines, Care Compare public reporting, liability
- Insole supports elopement care plans without restraints — resident rights friendly
- Simple staff workflow — check shoes at intake, same as checking dentures
- Family confidence during tours — show a dignity-first safety option, not a locked unit
- Pilot-ready — start with 5-10 residents, document compliance, expand
Platform Vision — Same Holder, Future-Proof
Today it's wandering safety. Tomorrow the same insole holder holds heat alerts, fall detection, vitals.
We lead with shoes because families already put them on. Once the habit is built and trust is earned, the holder becomes a wellness platform. No new device to learn, no new charging habit, no new stigma. Facilities love this roadmap because it protects their investment and shows families long-term thinking.
Now
Wandering alerts, safe zones, $99/year monitoring
Next
Fall impact + temperature exposure warnings from same iTag path
Future
Wellness telemetry & activity insights, still in the shoe
$99/year vs $7-10K/month memory care. There are real ways families cover it.
Medicaid HCBS Waivers
Many state waivers cover PERS and assistive tech as home modification. Ask your Area Agency on Aging case manager.
VA Aid & Attendance
Veterans with wandering risk may qualify for Aid & Attendance benefit for personal safety devices.
LTC Insurance
Long-term care policies often reimburse personal safety equipment that delays facility placement.
Facility Budget
Facilities justify under risk management and QAPI — compare to one F689 citation.
Talk to our safety team
We built this after hearing "he ripped the watch off" one too many times.
Bea18llc One Step Above is a small, veteran family run footwear team with patented holder technology. We are not a giant medical device company. We answer our own phones, we fit shoes ourselves, and we know every family story matters. Whether you are a daughter, a son, a spouse, or a memory care director, tell us what safe independence would look like for your person.
Tell us about your family — we will call you back.
Educational information only, not medical advice. Talk to your clinician about care planning. Bea18llc tracking uses crowdsourced Bluetooth detection — location updates depend on nearby smartphone density. Best in populated areas. Always have a comprehensive wandering response plan.
