# The Tag I Wish I Had When My Dementia Father Went Missing Overseas

My late father, Mr Shanmugam, lived with dementia and became lost several times. To help people contact me if they found him wandering, I placed an identification tag on him displaying my personal mobile number.

Although it was necessary for his safety, openly displaying my number resulted in spam calls and other unwanted contact.

Illustrative image: A visible identification tag can help members of the public assist a vulnerable person who appears lost.

1When My Father Went Missing in Indonesia

During a family trip to Indonesia, my father went missing at a busy market.

Despite wearing an identification tag displaying my Singapore telephone number, nobody contacted me. A person who saw the tag may not have recognised it as an overseas number, may not have known Singapore’s country code or may have hesitated to make an international call.

After a frightening search, I eventually found my father sitting alone outside a shop. He was unable to explain clearly who he was, where he was staying or how to contact his family.

I will never forget the fear and helplessness I felt during that search.

A vulnerable person may be unable to explain where they live or how to contact their family. One visible QR tag could provide a connection back to the caregiver.

2If Only I Had EkTag

I wish I had known about EkTag while my father was still alive.

Instead of displaying my personal Singapore number openly, I could have attached an EkTag QR tag to an appropriate wristband, identification card, lanyard or another item that remained with him.

A person who found him could have scanned the QR code using a smartphone and used the available communication options to contact me. The finder would not have needed to recognise or manually dial an overseas telephone number.

My personal number would also not have been printed publicly on the tag.

If my father had been wearing EkTag that day in Indonesia, perhaps someone would have noticed and scanned the tag before contacting me. This could have saved us precious time and reduced the fear of not knowing where he was.

EkTag could not have prevented him from wandering, but it might have given a caring stranger a simpler way to help reconnect him with us.

3A Borderless Communication Service

EkTag is a borderless QR-based communication service designed for use across countries.

The physical tag is not restricted to the country where it was purchased or registered. Whether the wearer is in Singapore, Indonesia, India or another country, a finder can scan the QR code and use the available contact options to reach the registered caregiver.

This makes it potentially useful for vulnerable children, seniors and families travelling overseas.

Cross-border use remains dependent on:

• The tag being visible, readable and properly registered
• The finder having a smartphone and internet access
• The EkTag platform and relevant communication services being available
• Local network or service restrictions
• The registered caregiver receiving and responding to the communication

EkTag is therefore borderless in practical use, but it cannot guarantee that every scan, call or message will be completed successfully in every location.

4A Private Connection Across Borders

A traditional identification tag may display a person’s name, medical condition, home address or telephone number. Although this information can be helpful during an emergency, it also exposes sensitive personal details to everyone who sees the tag.

An EkTag QR tag offers a more privacy-conscious contact option:

• No personal telephone number displayed publicly
• No app required for the finder to scan
• Privacy-protected communication
• Optional anonymity for the finder
• No battery required
• Contact information that can be managed digitally
• Potential for use locally and overseas

This could be particularly useful when a caregiver’s telephone number is from another country and may not be recognised or dialled correctly by the finder.

5EkTag Is Not a GPS Tracker

EkTag is not a GPS tracker. It cannot continuously track a person, prevent someone from wandering or display their live location.

It can help only when:

• The person is wearing or carrying the tag
• The tag is visible and readable
• Someone notices and scans it
• Internet access and the EkTag service are available
• The caregiver receives and responds to the communication

However, when these conditions are met, EkTag can provide an important communication link between a vulnerable person, a helpful stranger and the family searching for them.

6An Additional Tool for Caregivers

EkTag should not replace proper supervision, identification documents, emergency contacts, professional safety advice or established caregiving arrangements.

However, it may provide an additional contact method for:

• Seniors living with dementia or memory-related conditions
• Non-speaking children and adults
• Autistic individuals who may wander
• People who may become confused or disoriented
• Families travelling overseas with vulnerable loved ones
• Wheelchair users
• People carrying walking canes or other mobility aids
• Caregivers who do not want to display their personal numbers publicly

The tag should be placed somewhere visible and comfortable without creating a choking, entanglement, mobility or other safety risk.

7The Tag I Wish I Had for My Father

EkTag would not have guaranteed my father’s safety or prevented him from becoming lost. However, it could have offered a caring stranger a private and more convenient way to contact me—even when we were outside Singapore.

One visible tag. One caring stranger. One private connection across borders and back to the family.

EkTag does not replace human kindness. It gives a kind person a simpler and more private way to help—at home or while travelling overseas.

This article describes the author’s personal experience involving the author’s late father. Any accompanying elderly-person image is illustrative and does not depict Mr Shanmugam. EkTag is not a GPS tracker and cannot guarantee a person’s safety, location or successful return. Cross-border functionality depends on internet access, platform availability, local services and the caregiver’s response. If a vulnerable child or senior goes missing, contact the local police or emergency services immediately.

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