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Woodstock latest to offer tracking devices

By Lawerence Synett TribLocal reporter Monday at 3:39 p.m.

The Woodstock Police Department this week became the fifth McHenry County law enforcement agency to be equipped and trained with a system aimed at keeping the mentally ill and others from going missing.

The Care Trak system allows the tracking of residents who have a history of wandering, or the potential to do so, by placing a small radio transmitter on their wrist or ankle. It is limited to those with conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, autism, dementia and Down syndrome.

“This gives piece of mind to any family member with a loved one with these symptoms,” said Sean McGrath, Crystal Lake police officer and Care Trak coordinator for the county. “They know that if they do turn their back and someone were to wander away, law enforcement officials have a tool to locate the individual.”

Woodstock joins Crystal Lake, Huntley and McHenry police departments as well as the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office as agencies using the Care Trak system. Total cost for the system and training is between $15,000 and $20,000, with all five being paid for through donations from Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital.

“It was the right thing to do, a good place to direct some needed funding,” said Julie Mayer, director of community outreach for Good Shepherd. “The (technology) is pricey, but we now have all of McHenry County covered.”

The McHenry County Mental Health Board oversees the screening and maintenance of the program, which includes registration, a one-time $250 rental fee, and free battery replacement for the device every other month.

The county now has one of the highest number of law enforcement agencies using Care Trak, McGrath said. The goal is to eventually have Care Trak at all county agencies.

So far, about 10 residents are registered in McHenry County. There have been no Care Trak searches performed yet at any of the agencies equipped.

Only law enforcement can monitor the tracking bracelet. To have the device, a resident must have a full-time caregiver, be prone to wandering, and have a diagnosed mental illness.

As more and more agencies sign up for the program, those enrolled are expected to increase, McGrath said.

“Just last week in Crystal Lake, we had a resident with dementia who wandered off,” he said. “We provided the family with information about Care Trak, and the next day the family was calling the health board to sign up.”

For more info or to register, call the mental health board at 815-455-2828.

lsynett@tribune.com