L.A. Found Initiative Unveils Innovative GPS Technology for Vulnerable Individuals
At a poignant press event on October 15, 2025, held at Gloria Molina Grand Park in Los Angeles, Jordan Nichole Wall, 27, proudly showcased her newly updated GPS watch. This technology, as her mother Mary Brown explained, is pivotal in monitoring Wall, who may wander due to her condition.
Reflecting on a heart-wrenching personal tragedy, Kirk Moody recounted how his wife, Nancy Paulikas, who had been suffering from early-onset Alzheimer’s, vanished during a visit to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in 2016. Despite exhaustive searches, she remained missing for over two years, until her remains were discovered in Sherman Oaks.
“It took 26 months to learn we would not find her alive,” Moody stated during the event organized by the LA County Aging & Disabilities Department, alongside the L.A. Found program.
As a somber reminder of the challenges caregivers face, the event also highlighted advancements in tracking technology for individuals with Alzheimer’s, dementia, autism, or other cognitive impairments.
Addressing the audience, Moody and other representatives unveiled the Theora Care Smartwatch. This sophisticated wrist device ensures real-time location tracking and alerts caregivers through a smartphone application whenever the wearer strays beyond a designated geofencing safe zone. Additionally, it features an SOS button for emergencies.
To date, several dozen of these innovative smartwatches have been distributed, and officials encourage families caring for individuals with cognitive disabilities—those most prone to wandering—to apply for these free devices.
The smartwatch collaborates effectively with the existing Project Lifesaver bracelet initiative, which emits radio signals, further assisting first responders in locating individuals who wander. Since the inception of L.A. Found in 2018, over 1,800 bracelets have been provided.
According to LASD Commander Geff Deedrick, these advancements represent a substantial leap from the antiquated street grid tracking methods previously relied upon, significantly narrowing the search range.
“This technology enables us to reach those who are prone to seeking water more rapidly, minimizing the risks associated with drowning,” Deedrick emphasized.
In Los Angeles County alone, more than 190,000 seniors grapple with Alzheimer’s or dementia, while one in 22 children in California receives an autism diagnosis.
Kate Movius, founder of Autism Interaction Solutions and an active member of the L.A. Found Task Force, lamented the rising mortality rates among missing individuals with autism.
She recounted how her own son became lost at age 14 and was hospitalized as a John Doe. “It is truly a matter of life and death,” she lamented, stressing the urgency of effective tracking solutions.
Jordan Nichole Wall’s mother, Mary Brown, shared her daughter’s impulsive tendencies, describing instances where Wall had wandered off during outings, including trips to the beach and Home Depot.
“She’s not deliberately trying to escape; her curiosity just drives her,” Brown explained, recounting an experience at Santa Monica beach where Wall went missing for hours.
“With such a device, we could have located her much sooner,” Brown stated, as Wall displayed her new smartwatch, earning applause from the audience.
Janet Rivera spoke about her dual caregiving responsibilities for her mother, Martha Jaramillo, 79, who has dementia, and her son, Kenny Rivera, 25, who often wanders. She welcomed the peace of mind granted by the smartwatch technology.
“As I grow older, I can’t keep up as I once did,” Rivera remarked, underscoring the device’s significance for their family.
Deedrick concluded that the confidence provided by these tools ensures families are less anxious when their loved ones go missing, as immediate action becomes feasible.
“Every family deserves the assurance that their loved one will be found if they venture away,” stated Fourth District LA County Supervisor Janice Hahn, who co-authored the foundational motion launching the L.A. Found program in 2018.
Source link: Dailynews.com.
