Japanese Using QR-Code Fingernail Stickers to Identify Dementia Patients

The Huffington Post recently reported that an astonishing 12,208 dementia sufferers in Japan were declared missing in 2015 alone. Tragically, 500 of these individuals passed away before ever seeing their families again. Dementia affects around five million Japanese individuals today.

One innovative company, Orange Links, based in Iruma, Japan has developed a new device to help those with dementia keep a record of their basic information with them at all times. The device is a tiny, 1cm square sticker that can be placed on fingernails, toenails or other items.

Despite its small size, the water-resistant square is capable of holding key identifying details like the person’s name, address and telephone number. Disoriented or lost individuals who are picked up by police stations can be identified more efficiently with a quick scan of their barcode.

This isn’t the first time such solutions have been suggested for individuals suffering with memory loss. A number of areas already utilize similar ID stickers on their clothing, and many businesses sell GPS tracking for dementia suffers to help keep them safe in Europe and North America. What makes this product revolutionary is its compact size, water-resistant characteristics, and ability to be worn directly on the body.

Some opponents of this new technology have raised concerns about potential privacy violations associated with the wearable sticker. Each QR-code sticker contains a unique, individual identity number that could be read by anyone with a QR reader. On top of that, a large amount of critics point out the similarities between the wearable code and the Biblical mark of the beast. It’s concerning that the government, identity thieves or other criminals could potentially abuse these wearable identification stickers.

In response to opponents of this new technology, the spokeswoman from the company that developed the sticker, Yukiko Sano, told CNN News that these stickers will save both time and money. She explains that minimum information is stored on these stickers, and the sole purpose of the stickers is to ensure lost individuals are reunited with their families as soon as possible.

Here in the U.S., you can obtain a GPS tracking for elderly device for personal safety to track the wearabouts of elderly and dementia patients.

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