Design and real life deployment of a pervasive monitoring system for dementia patients

Abstract

We present the first phase of a project for monitoring elderly people suffering from dementia in the 'real life' environment of an 'assisted living' flat associated with a nursing home. Based on monitoring requirements derived in discussions with the nursing staff the system consists of a UBISENSE location system for monitoring location, a sound-system for monitoring vocal interaction, and the TECO 'Particles' sensor nodes mounted under the beds for sleep monitoring. In this paper we introduce the background and environment of the project, describe the requirements and the system and present some initial data collected in the first deployment period.

UWB Indoor Location for Monitoring Dementia Patients

“…Our participation in the Lighting Project 1 deployed in 2008 by the Kompetenzzentrum Licht (www.k-licht.at), in course of which a ward in the St. Katharina home for elderly in Vienna (order of the merciful sisters) was reconstructed, provided us the possibility to install the Ubisense system in this reconstructed ward (Hanser, 2008).…”

Conceptual framework and algorithms to classify wandering travel patterns of elderly with dementia

“…Sensory systems [59][60][61] used different location modalities such as infrared sensors [59], optical illumination-based location sensors [60], or ultra-wide-band radio receivers with small tags for transmitters [61]. From the location information collected, subjects' movement trajectories are modeled to estimate covered distances and travel speeds [59] or anticipate dangerous situations that may happen when the wandering subjects enter adverse areas like exit doors or laundry rooms [60].…”

“…From the location information collected, subjects' movement trajectories are modeled to estimate covered distances and travel speeds [59] or anticipate dangerous situations that may happen when the wandering subjects enter adverse areas like exit doors or laundry rooms [60]. In addition, location data may be combined with other signals like the amount of social interaction and the quality of sleep [61] to monitor state changes of PWD. The limitation of these studies is they were not evaluated on large number of subjects.…”

“…The limitation of these studies is they were not evaluated on large number of subjects. The evaluation of the correlation between sensory data and the development of the dementia in the inhabitants [61] has not yet been possible whereas [59] managed to get one wanderer involved in their trial for 8 months.…”