Ultra wideband radio: A novel method for measuring wandering in persons with dementia

Abstract

Wandering by persons with dementia is a complex syndrome of locomotive behaviors shaped by environmental, wanderer-specific and caregiver characteristics that vary the risk level for exiting, elopement, getting lost and accidental death. While valid and reliable methods to measure wandering exist, few have been evaluated for measurement of specific geographical patterns of wandering behavior as they occur in space and over time. In this paper we demonstrate how UWB-RFID can be used to unobtrusively and continuously measure two particularly high-risk wandering behaviors over intervals from weeks to months that occur in proximity to care setting exit points: lingering near exit doorways and shadowing (closely trailing behind) others who may exit.

UWB/BLE Tracking System for Elderly People Monitoring

“…Commercially available Ubisense systems were experimentally verified with AAL application in mind. In Reference [26], laboratory tests performed in LOS conditions confirmed positioning errors lower than 0.2 m. Test campaign described in Reference [27] was performed in a nursing home with elderly residents' participation. Although the authors do not specify positioning accuracy, they claim that collected information allowed for investigation of patients behaviours.…”

Embedded System for Hygiene Compliance Monitoring

“…Although the UWB technology is advancing, the main limitation of this approach is considerable capital investments in infrastructure and hardware. In a complex indoor environment, extra expensive sensors might be required to improve coverage and provide accurate tracking [14].…”

Smart rehabilitation for the 21st century: The Tampa Smart Home for veterans with traumatic brain injury

“…Using Ubisense Real Time Location System technology to track patients has been validated in several prior studies, which tracked residents in assisted living facilities [28][29]. The system tracks an active radio frequency identification tag using sensors mounted on the walls of the facility.…”