Supporting Older People Through Telecare
By Aldred, H.; Amaral, T.; Brownsell, S.; Arnott, J.L.; Hawley, M.S.; Hine, N.; Assistive Technology: From Virtuality to Reality, Vol. 16, No. 1, pp. 41-45Publication Date: 2005
Study conducted to investigate the various indicators that can lead to older people requiring increased levels of care and support in the United Kingdom. A literature review yielded over 100 indicators, though these were broken down to reveal 36 factors of the greatest importance. These factors are presented in table format. The use of telecare was tied to the monitoring of these factors, as telecare is divided into two main categories: (1) automatic alarm systems, which utilize sensors to provide continuous monitoring and trigger an alarm if an emergency condition is detected, and (2) predictive systems, which can compare current data with the client’s history in order to determine the changes that could be associated with long-term deterioration. For example, a history of falls can be associated with increases in body weight, slower walking, or increasingly longer periods of inactivity. These factors can be measured by body-mass sensors, walk or speed sensors, and bed or chair usage sensors. The data acquired by these sensors can be stored and analyzed in terms of mobility and cognitive indicators. The authors contend that such intelligent systems have implications to efficiently determine client status and to plan for safe long-term care.
Published by: IOS Press (Website:http://www.iospress.nl)
Association for the Advancement of Assistive Technology in Europe (AAATE) (Web Site: http://www.aaate.net )
Link to text: http://iospress.metapress.com/link.asp?id=w28q5qq0t4tjywqd
