Yes, a person with dementia may repeatedly remove a wearable device, but this does not happen to everyone. A 2018 U.S.
population study found that dementia alone did not predict whether someone removed a wrist actigraph during three days of monitoring. Removal can reflect discomfort, skin irritation, confusion, privacy concerns, or a wish not to wear the device. The practical question is not simply how to keep it attached, but whether the device remains acceptable, useful, and safe.
Medical information disclaimer: This article is for general educational purposes only and does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a physician or other qualified health professional about symptoms, medications, tests, or treatment decisions.
Table of Contents
- Why do wearable devices get removed?
- Does dementia itself make removal more likely?
- What happens with location-tracking bracelets?
- How should caregivers respond?
- When is a wearable still worth using?
Why do wearable devices get removed?
Wearables may feel tight, hot, unfamiliar, or irritating. In a 2020 study of 257 people in aged residential care, only 44% provided the target week of wearable data. Among explained data losses, 51.6% followed early removal because of skin irritation or discomfort, while 15.8% followed device loss after removal. The study was published in Sensors.
A person may also remove a device because its purpose is unclear. dementia can affect memory, judgment, sensory processing, and the ability to explain distress. Privacy concerns may matter too, especially when the wearable tracks location. Repeated removal should therefore be treated as information. It may signal a poor fit, a skin problem, anxiety, or disagreement with the device—not merely a behavior to overcome.
Does dementia itself make removal more likely?
The evidence does not support a universal rule. The 2018 study in the *Journals of Gerontology: Series A* found no independent link between dementia and taking off a wrist actigraph during a three-day protocol. That result suggests that device design, setting, comfort, supervision, and individual preferences also influence adherence. Longer monitoring can produce a different experience.
In the residential-care study, the dementia-level care group had the highest complete data loss, at 15%. Among documented reasons participants could not tolerate seven days of wear, 68.8% were classified as intolerance. These findings are not contradictory. A person may tolerate a device briefly but reject it after several days, or tolerate a research monitor but remove a location bracelet during daily care. The length and purpose of wear matter.
What happens with location-tracking bracelets?
A 2024 study of an inpatient dementia unit found that some patients fidgeted with or removed location-tracking bracelets. Staff commonly redirected the person or moved the bracelet to an ankle. Staff also recognized that removal could communicate a wish not to wear it. The findings appeared in JMIR Aging.
Location technology can identify where someone is, but it does not automatically prevent harm. In that study, the system was passive: staff still had to notice a location, judge the risk, and respond. No participant reported reduced adverse events or patient risk. A device can also fail operationally. If staff must repeatedly replace it, charge it, check alerts, or explain its use, the system may add work without delivering dependable protection.
How should caregivers respond?
Start by checking the simplest causes before changing the device or using more supervision: Do not force a wearable onto someone who is distressed. A concealed device or repeated replacement may undermine trust, especially when location tracking raises privacy or autonomy concerns.
If the device is intended to support wandering safety, treat it as one part of a broader plan. The National Institute on Aging advises labeling clothing with the person's name and a phone number when they may remove an identification bracelet; it also notes that GPS may supplement or replace a medical bracelet, while other safety measures remain necessary. See the National Institute on Aging's guidance on wandering.
- Look for redness, swelling, pressure marks, moisture, or broken skin.
- Check whether the band is too tight, loose, heavy, or difficult to fasten.
- Ask when removal occurs: during bathing, sleep, agitation, or unfamiliar care.
- Explain the device briefly and calmly, using the person's preferred words.
- Try a different body location only if the person accepts it and the device remains effective.
When is a wearable still worth using?
A wearable may be reasonable when the person tolerates it, the purpose is clear, someone monitors the system, and the response plan is realistic. It is less useful when removal is frequent, skin problems continue, alerts are ignored, or caregivers assume the device guarantees safety.
Before choosing one, ask: A device that remains available for part of the day may still provide useful information, but missing data limits what caregivers or clinicians can conclude. The most acceptable option is often the one the person can comfortably tolerate without repeated conflict.
- What specific problem is the device meant to address?
- Who checks its status and responds to an alert?
- What happens if the person removes or loses it?
- Can the person pause or refuse its use?
- Is there a non-wearable backup, such as labeled clothing and an agreed response plan?
