Finnish startup Yepzon Enterprises announced today that its personal GPS locator would be used in a pilot program by the City of Varkaus in Eastern Finland to assist people with memory loss and their caregivers. The locator was introduced in December 2014, primarily for locating missing children, according to Yepzon developer Otto Linna. It communicates location to one or more smartphones with which it is paired.
“Our official goal is to utilize modern technology as effectively as possible,” said service instructor Mervi Ilonen from city of Varkaus, who is the coordinator of the pilot program. “The idea is that using technology medical staff can focus on the essential without a constant concern about clients leaving their homes.” Moreover, she said, relatives have less to worry about, and patients can live at home as long as possible.
“I was really inspired when Mervi Ilonen told me about Yepzon the first time,” said Heikki Alanen, the chairman of Pensioners of Varkaus, who more than once had to look for missing people during pensioners’ society trips.
Ilonen said elderly people will use technology if they see the benefit. Some devices, she said, have been difficult to use, suffered from short battery life, and have been costly. The Yepzon device requires no passwords and can operate in standby mode for weeks on a single charge.
Liisa Korhonen, head of Home Care for the City of Varkaus, said, “Technology will never replace personal care and interaction but can support it.”
Yepzon started its operation in 2013 and employs directly four employees and indirectly approximately 20 product developers at subcontractors. The company’s head office is located in Tampere, Finland. Yepzon Ltd., registered in London, is a subsidiary wholly owned by Yepzon Enterprises. Yepzon Inc., registered in Nevada, is a joint venture with Global Expansion Solutions LLC. www.yepzon.com.—Rick Nelson
