CCI & ElderTech
Uncertainty Modelling in Technologies for the Elderly
Center for Eldercare and Rehabilitation Technology - ElderTech
ElderTech (http://eldertech.missouri.edu/ ) project at the University of Missouri
researches into technology interventions for elders with mobility
and cognitive impairments. They have established a partnership
among faculty, students, and researchers at the University of
Missouri-Columbia (MU) in the College of Engineering, the Sinclair
School of Nursing, and the Department of Health and Medical
Informatics, as well as the Medical Automation Research Centre
(MARC) at the University of Virginia, to develop and evaluate
intervention technology for elders. They have a unique care
facility to study technology targeting mobility and cognitive
impairments.
The current work is focused on monitoring older adults through a network of sensors placed in the environment ranging from simple motion sensors to video sensors to a bed sensor that captures sleep restlessness and pulse and respiration levels. Sensor networks have been installed in more than eight apartments in TigerPlace, an assisted living facility in Columbia, MO, designed for aging in place.
Data collection has been ongoing for two years in some apartments. This longevity in sensor data collection is allowing researchers to study the data and develop algorithms for identifying alert conditions such as falls as well as extracting typical daily activity patterns for an individual. The goal is to capture patterns representing physical and cognitive health conditions and then recognize when activity patterns begin to deviate from the norm. In doing so, researchers strive to provide early detection of potential problems which may lead to serious health events if left unattended. With proper interventions, small problems can be addressed before they become major health problems, thus maintaining a high level of functionality and a high quality of life for older adults as they age.
ElderTech (http://eldertech.missouri.edu/ ) project at the University of Missouri
researches into technology interventions for elders with mobility
and cognitive impairments. They have established a partnership
among faculty, students, and researchers at the University of
Missouri-Columbia (MU) in the College of Engineering, the Sinclair
School of Nursing, and the Department of Health and Medical
Informatics, as well as the Medical Automation Research Centre
(MARC) at the University of Virginia, to develop and evaluate
intervention technology for elders. They have a unique care
facility to study technology targeting mobility and cognitive
impairments.
The current work is focused on monitoring older adults through a network of sensors placed in the environment ranging from simple motion sensors to video sensors to a bed sensor that captures sleep restlessness and pulse and respiration levels. Sensor networks have been installed in more than eight apartments in TigerPlace, an assisted living facility in Columbia, MO, designed for aging in place.
Data collection has been ongoing for two years in some apartments. This longevity in sensor data collection is allowing researchers to study the data and develop algorithms for identifying alert conditions such as falls as well as extracting typical daily activity patterns for an individual. The goal is to capture patterns representing physical and cognitive health conditions and then recognize when activity patterns begin to deviate from the norm. In doing so, researchers strive to provide early detection of potential problems which may lead to serious health events if left unattended. With proper interventions, small problems can be addressed before they become major health problems, thus maintaining a high level of functionality and a high quality of life for older adults as they age.