We will examine whether frequent conversations could improve thinking abilities among the elderly. Before we start a large study on this issue, we will conduct one feasibility study. We want to find out how long the elderly (age 75 and older) talk on average during one week. We will use a conversation recording device (a [...]
Technology that has been developed for remote health care typically provides a limited interface between patient and health care provider. The remote telepresence designed by North End Technologies represents a significant advance in the ability to obtain important health information on a regular basis without requiring elderly patients to leave their homes. This pilot study [...]
Abstract Health, quality of life and treatment outcomes in older adults have been shown to be influenced by their level of social engagement in personal relationships and activities — both positive or negative – with family members, peers, community members, local institutions, and, at the broadest level, society. Because of the heavy reliance on the [...]
Abstract Assessment of physical activity among older adults is of particular public health significance because there are a wide variety of fitness levels in this age group, and the presence of chronic conditions may limit participation in physical activity. Declines in cognitive function may increase recall bias and can further limit the use of questionnaires. [...]
Information about the tracking study.
Abstract We have found that load cells under the corners of the bed can detect respiration as well as movements in bed. The ability to detect both changes in respiration (such as result from sleep apnea) and periodic leg movements (which are symptomatic in sleep apnea and other disorders) over time, in a person’s home, [...]
Abstract The focus of maintaining home independence is currently centered around residential spaces and the activity occurring within the home. This is a narrow view. An active person in fact may not spend much time in home and as a result may skew the view of their activity levels simply because their major periods of [...]
Abstract The focus of developing technology to assist in maintaining home independence is currently narrowly centered on residential spaces and the activity occurring within the home. An active person may spend large amounts of time outside the home, and as a result, may skew the view of their activity levels. It is clear that outdoor [...]
Abstract Many community dwelling elders experience memory problems that limit functional independence. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a relatively new diagnosis that indicates that an individual has poorer cognition, usually memory, than is typical for normal aging but does not have problems severe enough to warrant a diagnosis of dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease. In [...]
Abstract Technology has the potential to change the way we age in our environment. The application of technologies to aging in place must be determined with a knowledge of cultural issues and individual preferences. This is a qualitative study designed to explore attitudes and values of older women towards innovative technologies. The research targets groups [...]
Abstract Clinical research into Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and the mild cognitive impairment (MCI) that precedes its full onset is increasingly focused on early diagnosis. Currently, the reliable clinical diagnosis of MCI requires expensive and time-consuming evaluations by skilled clinicians utilizing neuropsychological tests administered in person by trained psychometricians. Automation of these evaluations would allow frequent, [...]
Abstract In reviewing ethnographic studies of elders with dementia who live at home, we identified several areas where those elders and caregivers were struggling to maintain their quality of life. One of those areas was in maintaining social connectedness with friends and relatives. For a variety of reasons, elders, particularly those suffering from early stages [...]
Abstract Maintaining independence at home may be facilitated by various kinds of unobtrusive sensing technology. These technologies can provide a broad array of information. Unfortunately, little is known about the types of data or the formats for data output that are most desired by older people. This pilot project is designed to address those gaps [...]
Abstract Mobility is a core function affecting quality of life for the elderly. In addition to the obvious implications for the ability to perform activities of daily living, certain aspects of movement, such as the number of steps taken in a given time interval or the speed of walking, may be used to predict a [...]