AT EASE: Automated Technology for Elder Assessment, Safety, and Environmental Monitoring
By Mahoney, Diane Feeney; Mahoney, Edward L.; Liss, Ellen; Gerontechnology, Volume 8, Number 1, pages 11-25Publication Date: Winter 2009
Study explored the concerns of the elders, their families, and staff in Independent Living Residences (ILRs) and investigated whether remote residential monitoring using wireless sensors might address these concerns. An ILR is defined as a less expensive option to assisted living facilities but one that operates with minimal professional staffing. The research occurred at 3 ILRs for people aged 60 and over residing in Massachusetts. A mixed methods approach was used. Phase 1 involved 8 sets of focus groups comprising either ILR residents, relatives of residents, building managers and superintendents, or affiliated nurse practitioners (NPs) providing residential services. Phase 2 built the Automated Technology for Elder Assessment, Safety and Environment (AT EASE) remote home monitoring system in response to end user input. Phase 3 involved an 18 month implementation period with 10 sets of end users testing the system for at least 4 months each. End users all shared in common worries about the safety and well-being of the residents. Specific memory related issues included medications, meals, and shutting off the toilet/bath water. The AT EASE system was developed to uniquely tailor the type of sensor and activities monitored to individuals’ particular concerns. Initial reliability trials uncovered severe signal interference for the X10 based wireless sensor system, resulting in a redesign and successful deployment of a Zigbee base system. Alert information was triaged to multiple parties authorized as recipients and occurred without any data security breaches. For example, only the building superintendent would receive the toilet overflow alert and the nurse practitioner an alert that several medications were missed.
Published by: International Society for Gerontechnology (Website:http://www.gerontechnology.info)
International Society for Gerontechnology (Web Site: http://www.gerontechnology.info )
Link to text: http://gerontechnology.info/index.php/journal/article/view/gt.2009.08.01.003.00/975
