Breadcrumb tackles GPS technology for Alzheimer patients

Managing Alzheimer patients and keeping tabs on their whereabouts has become an issue of growing importance as the population ages and extends its life cycle. It's an issue a local start-up, Breadcrumb, is capitalizing on.

The Royal Oak-based firm has created GPS technology to help families and caretakers keep track of Alzheimer patients. People suffering from the disease are known to wander away without telling anyone where they are going.

Breadcrumb has been developing the software for the last two years and has just launched its pilot program with the Alzheimer Foundation of America. Its technology uses GPS trackers strapped to Alzheimer patients' ankles or in their cars to find them if they wander away. The company also sees market possibilities beyond people who are suffering from the disease.

"This is a very large market," says Mark Ratliff, president of Breadcrumb. "Location-based services are a very substantial market for both people and pets."

The nearly 2-year-old start-up now has a team of 10 people (mostly independent contractors) working on the technology now. It hopes to reach $5 million in sales by the end of the year and have a staff of a dozen employees.

Source: Mark Ratliff, president of Breadcrumb
Writer: Jon Zemke

Read more about Metro Detroit's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem at SEMichiganStartup.com.

Breadcrumb tackles GPS technology for Alzheimer patients

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