There is a new non-invasive technology to monitor older people in long-term care facilities without the need for cameras, fobs or other traditional wearable devices.
Researchers at the University of Waterloo in Ontario used a wall-mounted, low-power wireless system and artificial intelligence (AI) to tell residents how often they go to the bathroom, when they eat and how long they usually watch TV. Record your habits. It can also alert your healthcare provider in case of a fall.
Hajar Abedi is a doctoral candidate in Systems Design Engineering at the university and the lead author of a study published in the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers’ (IEEE) Internet of Things journal.
Abedi told CBC’s Kitchener-Waterloo, “We’re using artificial intelligence to actually make our lives easier because we train artificial intelligence and they help us. “Because we can do the job. Basically, our main purpose is to use this AI technology to save lives.”
Monitoring seniors’ daily routines helps caregivers stay on top of any changes, she said.
“For example, we know your walking speed now and next month, so we have a baseline for each individual based on what we see,” Abedi said.
When the monitor detects anomalies such as repeated changes in stride length while walking, it can “identify caregivers and send notifications. [the seniors] walk slowly for a while [caregivers] I can tell you. “
The surveillance system, called ElephasCare, works via a radio wave device similar in size to an internet modem and can be mounted on the wall. No camera installed.
This helps protect personal privacy and is more beneficial than wearable devices. Wearable devices are finicky and sometimes need to be manipulated to make sure they are working properly, he said.
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Researchers at the University of Waterloo have developed a system that can monitor seniors in long-term care facilities without the need for cameras or wearable devices. Hajar Abedi, a doctoral candidate in systems design engineering and lead author of the study, explains how it works.
“High interest rates”
Gold Sentintel, a Waterloo-based company, has just begun a pilot with a system called ElephasCare at a local long-term care facility.
Gold Sentintel chief executive Greg Dalton said the first safety concerns centered on people who fell.
They “quickly realized that fall prevention had to be at the core of our efforts in order to make a meaningful impact.”
According to Public Health Canada, falls are the leading cause of hospitalization for injuries in Canadians over the age of 65.
According to Dalton, long-term care facility staff cannot monitor residents 100% of the time. If an occupant falls during the night, when staff numbers tend to be low, he or she may remain on the floor for a longer period of time.
The longer it takes staff to respond, the more likely it is that their health will deteriorate, so being able to immediately alert staff to falls “prevents unnecessary suffering,” he said. rice field.
“The beauty of AI is that as the data set collected by ElphasCare grows, it becomes more discerning. [other] Analyze trends and develop predictive models to improve outcomes for older people in caregiving and the frontline staff who care for these older people.
“The level of interest is high,” Dalton said. The company recently attended a care conference in Toronto and spoke with people in the care industry.
“They are all very much interested in a unique, resident-centric, clinically informed approach. It will enable us to provide patients with better, more focused and personalized care,” he said.
Need to “find the right balance”
The use of this type of research and AI technology in long-term care facilities across Canada is worth considering, said Jodi Hall, chief executive officer of the Canadian Long-Term Care Council (CALTC).
Hall said the University of Waterloo study “sounds like it could be an additional tool for the team to support the safety of residents,” but that “any technology can be used by skilled health care providers.” It is not a substitute for the
In a statement to CBC News, Hall said, “Today, as long-term care grapples with staffing shortages and burnout, we need a multifaceted recruitment and retention strategy, so technology should be seen as a solution in itself. It’s not,’ he said.
Likewise, it is important to involve people living in long-term care facilities, their families, staff and governments in “finding the right balance” before moving forward.
“It is important for society as a whole to continue to strike a balance between technological advancement and respect for privacy.
“Many of our residents have vulnerable and complex care needs, especially in long-term care.It is of the utmost importance that we maintain their dignity and privacy at all times.”
