June 02, 2006
Remote Caregiving for the Elderly
An assisted-living facility in Oregon uses RFID technology to monitor the residents. Badges are worn that signal to dozens of infrared and radio-frequency sensors inside the facility and outside on the grounds information to track residents 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The device monitors location, movement and acvity level, weight and many other data. It is so sensitive that it can even capture fluctuations in breathing.
"The thing that really makes this place work is the monitoring technology," the owners point out and explain that data has no agenda. "Data's not trying to make someone look better or worse." It can show if a resident is spending too much time in bed or too restless. The data can also be used to to tell whether an aide takes too long to respond when a resident pushes a call bell or whether a resident is losing too much weight. Once an aide was accused of goofing off. But the data showed he was the staffer who spent the most time with residents. The data give residents a freedom that they wouldn't have in other long-term care facilities.
Most of the individuals in this facility have some type of dementia yet, they are free to roam, inside and out. Because people are monitored at this assisted living facility, there's no need to build fences - no locked doors. The facility is called Oatfield Estates in Milwaukie Oregon.
Links:
Other technologies for the elderly from the Center for Aging Services Technologies (CAST)
Posted by rsk at June 2, 2006 10:46 PM