IndoorCare: Low-Cost Elderly Activity Monitoring System through Image Processing

Abstract

The Portuguese population is aging at an increasing rate, which introduces new problems, particularly in rural areas, where the population is small and widely spread throughout the territory. These people, mostly elderly, have low income and are often isolated and socially excluded. This work researches and proposes an affordable Ambient Assisted Living (AAL)-based solution to monitor the activities of elderly individuals, inside their homes, in a pervasive and non-intrusive way, while preserving their privacy. The solution uses a set of low-cost IoT sensor devices, computer vision algorithms and reasoning rules, to acquire data and recognize the activities performed by a subject inside a home. A conceptual architecture and a functional prototype were developed, the prototype being successfully tested in an environment similar to a real case scenario. The system and the underlying concept can be used as a building block for remote and distributed elderly care services, in which the elderly live autonomously in their homes, but have the attention of a caregiver when needed.

The future of care and healthcare provision to communitydwelling disa-bled elderly people in an ageing society

“…Even without further modifications this can significantly improve the quality of life of the elderly [34] despite the often low level of their digital competences [35]. Ambient assisted living (AAL) goes further and aims at optimizing the environment for people living with disabilities, including the elderly, to provide the needed assistance and reduce challenges [36] by utilizing systems that vary widely in terms of technical advancement and implementation cost [1], including the newest applications of artificial intelligence and robotic technology [37]. The common denominator for information technology-based solutions addressing the needs of the elderly is to provide them with the means to easily maintain existing connections while making new ones with the world and people outside their homes, in order to avoid dependence, alienation, and loneliness, which are detrimental to quality of life and physical and mental health [38].…”

“…The populations of all European countries are ageing at an increasing age. This is especially significant in rural areas, where the process overlaps with emigration to urban areas, which additionally depletes the elderly residents of social support [1]. The ability to perform everyday activities becomes progressively limited with age [2].…”