Evaluation of a Contact Sensor Skirt for an Anti-Collision Power Wheelchair for Older Adult Nursing Home Residents With Dementia: Safety and Mobility

Abstract

We studied an anti-collision power wheelchair's ability to enable safe, independent mobility in nursing home residents with dementia. The device had a contact sensor skirt that compensated for drivers' absent or delayed responses to obstacles. Safety observations were tracked during device use. In six single-subject studies, distances traveled by residents in manual and anti-collision wheelchairs were compared. Two residents could use the device: One resident's mobility and well-being improved; the other thought it was unhelpful. Another resident with potential for use did not like its usability, speed, and appearance. For two other residents, the device did not compensate for decreased initiation, motor planning, and awareness of obstacles above the sensors. Another resident was withdrawn because of verbal aggression. Interviews and focus groups revealed the device's usefulness. Perceptions of safety were mixed. Further work should improve environmental coverage, sensor skirt reliability, and safety; match technology to the needs of a wider range of residents; and enhance usability, functionality, and acceptance.

Usability testing of multimodal feedback interface and simulated collision-avoidance power wheelchair for long-term-care home residents with cognitive impairments

“…Indeed, four of the five users felt they would like a power mobility device like the one they tested. This was in contrast to the device tested by Wang et al [17], in which acceptance of the device was low because of the poor interface usability, appearance, decreased functionality, and slow driving speed. Not surprisingly, the speed of the device evaluated in this study was found to be an area of dissatisfaction.…”

“…Not surprisingly, the speed of the device evaluated in this study was found to be an area of dissatisfaction. Despite the somewhat higher speed of approximately 40 percent of an average walking pace for the device tested in this study compared with the 20 percent in Wang et al [17], driving speed was still a problem. Slow speed in a power wheelchair has functional and social implications for the user [56].…”

“…The absence of such assistance was found to be a usability problem, resulting in decreased device effectiveness and user dissatisfaction and contributing to device nonacceptance in a previous study that evaluated an anticollision power wheelchair [17]. Guided by findings from this previous study, we developed an improved user interface and tested it together with a simulated collision-avoidance power wheelchair.…”

“…The system described by Wang et al [17] was tested with long-term-care home residents with mild or moderate cognitive impairments related to dementia who were not permitted to drive a power wheelchair. The testing lasted up to several months, depending on the resident.…”

“…A comprehensive review of smart wheelchair projects is provided by Simpson [14]. With a few exceptions [15][16][17][18], the majority of advanced power wheelchairs have not been designed for long-term institutional-care residents with cognitive impairments. Moreover, only two systems have been tested with this targeted population.…”