We have been developing an RFID (radio frequency identification) mat system to assist caregivers in a group home. In Japan, the number of group homes offering home-like care for elderly persons suffering from dementia has increased considerably. Even though the smaller number of people residing in a group home makes it suitable for family-like care, the scarcity of caregivers increases the burden, especially during the night. To augment caregiver attention, we developed floor mats with embedded RFID antennae and slippers with RFID tags. These can help caregivers be aware of the activities of persons suffering from dementia by specifying whether an individual has passed over a mat in a particular corridor. This not only helps the caregivers understand such persons by reviewing their activities but also keeps them informed about their current activities. We introduced the floor mats in a real group home and confirmed the feasibility of the system. In this study, we describe the system and lessons learned from our experiment.
Abstract. We aim to clarify the requirements for the mimamori-care system in the group home to support caregivers who take care of persons with dementia (PWD). We investigated the effects of the prototype, which consists of several cameras and monitors, by interviewing eleven caregivers. We found that the prototype system not only helps the caregivers to watch out the people with dementia but also removes some stress caused by taking excessive precaution to residents' behaviors. Caregivers however reported some concerns to the violation of privacy as for the caregivers themselves and the residents alike.
Abstract. In Japan, a Group Home which offers home-based care service for elderly persons who suffer from dementia have been increased. Even though the small community of the home is suitable for familylike care, the short of caregivers increases the burden especially during midnight. To supplement the lack of attention, we developed floor mats embedded with RFID antenna and slippers with RFID tags. The system can help the caregivers to aware activities of the persons with dementia by specifying whether the person passed through the sheet on the corridor. It not only helps the caregivers to understand such persons by reviewing their activities but also keeps them informed about the person's ongoing activities.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.