Big Brother to help the elderly live independently
MELBOURNE: Sensors will be installed on the ceilings, walls and fridges of elderly people’s homes — and even under their beds — in an Australian-first study aiming to keep seniors living independently for longer.
The Monash University pilot trial is aiming to track real-time changes in health and mobility, and pick up early signs of decline as part of a new type of thinking about aged care.
Lead researcher Professor Velandai Srikanth, head of Monash’s Peninsula Clinical School, said non-intrusive sensors would be used to track a person’s movement in their home, measure how often they’re eating, whether they are taking medications, and the quality of their sleep.
“We want to see if we can gauge when someone’s health is in the early phase of decline, so we can step in earlier — if they’re willing to take that help
— to prevent hospitalisation and allow them to stay in their own environment,” Prof Srikanth said.
About 50 people aged over 60 on the Mornington Peninsula will be recruited to the study that will test both the effectiveness of the technology.
