Prinicpal Investigator: Rantz
Co-Investigators: Alexander, Aud, He, Keller, Koopman, Parker-Oliver, SkubicAgency: U.S. Administration on Aging
Project Summary
The dream of older Americans is to remain as active and independent as possible for as long as possible. They want to age in place, not in institutions like nursing homes (Rantz, Marek, & Zwygart-Stauffacher, 2000). Recently, enabling technology in the form of low cost sensors, computers, and communications systems has become available, which with supportive health care services makes the dream of aging in place a reality. We propose to develop and evaluate technologies for use by residents at a new living facility for seniors, TigerPlace, so that these technologies and supportive health care services can be made available to seniors throughout the country. The project goal is to develop the technology infrastructure at TigerPlace to enable us to develop and evaluate technologies for use by residents.
Objectives Are:
a) Install, implement, and develop an integrated monitoring system that reliably captures data about elder residents and their environment in a noninvasive manner and balances the needs of health, safety and privacy; collect and interpret sensor data in TigerPlace, demonstrating the possibilities for expanding such technology to other elder settings; b) describe supportive health care services needed to maximize benefits of the integrated monitoring system; c) evaluate usability of the technology and investigate fundamental issues in human-computer interaction for older adults; and d) evaluate usability of videophone technology to increase and enhance communication between residents of TigerPlace and their family members separated by geographic distance, encouraging family involvement.
Measurable Outcomes:
Technology will facilitate detection of adverse events such as falls or major changes in health status; technology will increase perception of safety while providing for privacy; and videophone technology will increase communication and family involvement in the lives of participating residents. Products from this project are: final report; an evaluation; web site; articles for publication; abstracts for national conferences.