Beijing, Nov 26 (IANS) Nearly 12,000 elderly people will receive free bracelets in Beijing that could help prevent them from getting lost, local authorities said on Saturday.

"The bracelets will be given to elderly people who have cognitive problems such as dementia," Xinhua news agency quoted Deputy Mayor of Beijing Wang Ning as saying.

The bracelets are equipped with a GPS. By installing an app on their smart phones, children of the seniors can locate their parents. The elderly can also make emergency calls with the bracelets.

According to Wang, they are also installing emergency call devices and smoke detectors for elderly people living alone. 

In 2015, about 222 million of the country's 1.3 billion citizens were aged 60 or older.

According to a survey, 1,370 senior citizens -- with an average age of 76 -- go missing every day.

By the end of November, the equipment will be given to at least 5,800 households.