The Senior Scene

Developing and evaluating motion-capture technology to help older adults “age in place” has been the focus of researchers at the University of Missouri for more than a decade. Previous research has utilized video game technology and various web-cameras to detect health changes in Tiger Place residents. Now, two new studies demonstrate how monitoring walking speed using radar and heart health by utilizing bed sensors help maintain older adults’ health and warn of impeding issues.

“In-home sensors have the ability to capture early signs of health changes before older adults recognize problems themselves,” said Marjorie Skubic, professor of electrical and computer engineering in the MU College of Engineering and director of MU’s Center for Eldercare and Rehabilitation Technology. “The radar enhances our ability to monitor walking speed and determine if a senior has a fall risk; the bed sensors provide data on heart rate, respiration rate, and overall cardiac activity when a senior is sleeping.

Both sensors are non-invasive and don’t require seniors to wear monitoring devices.”

The radar sensors were used to monitor the walking speed of residents in 10 Tiger Place apartments for two years. The radar devices were concealed in a wooden box and placed in the living room of each senior resident. Residents also were provided monthly assessments by professionals to establish whether they were at risk for potential falls. The data collected were then compared to the data captured by the radar.

“Before using radar, we were able to estimate an individual’s walking speed and have an idea of their health status,” said Dominic Ho, co-author and professor of electrical and computer engineering in the MU College of Engineering. “Now, we have data that definitely shows how declines in walking speed can determine the risk for falls.”

Skubic and her team also developed a bed sensor with the ability to continuously monitor heart rate, respiration rate and overall cardiac activity. The bed sensors are made using a hydraulic transducer, which is a flexible tube of water. The transducer measures the ballistocardiogram, which is the mechanical effect of the blood flowing through the body as a result of the heart beating.

In the study, four hydraulic transducers were placed under a mattress to capture cardiac data of the participants.

“Heart disease is a major cause of death for both men and women,” Skubic said. “Having a sensor continuously monitoring heart rate provides a significant benefit for older adults. The bed sensors also allow us to collect data on sleeping patterns– when people are in bed, how often they are in bed, and how long they are in bed. Similar to walking speed, sleep patterns can detect early signs of illness.”

The radar study and the bed sensor study provide non-invasive monitoring systems that help detect early signs of illness. Skubic and her team are working to investigate other sensors that can further improve very early detection of health changes so that health problems can be addressed while they are still small and manageable.

The study “Estimation of Human Walking Speed by Doppler Radar for Elderly Care” recently was accepted by the Journal of Ambient Intelligence and Smart Environments. Funding for the study was provided by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. The study “Heart Rate Monitoring Using Hydraulic Bed Sensors Ballistocardiogram” recently was accepted by the Journal of Ambient Intelligence and Smart Environments. Marilyn Rantz, Curators’ Professor Emerita of Nursing in the Sinclair School of Nursing also contributed to the study. Funding for this work was provided by the National Science Foundation.

Molly Peterson wrote this article.

As more and more Baby Boomers reach retirement, the concept of their children—Generation X—eventually assisting in their long-term care becomes more humbling and even a little daunting. Often called the Sandwich Generation, these children of boomers are likely still raising their own children while also caring for elderly parents.

Whether those parents still maintain their independence in their own home or have come to live in your home, the additional care can become exhausting. If one of those parents is ill, disabled in some way, or needs specialized care because of a progressive illness like dementia, the burden is even further amplified.

Luckily, there are many qualified, skilled professional caregivers who are available to help alleviate the stress and provide respite for the full-time, family caregiver.

Once you have decided to enlist the help of a caregiver, the concern then becomes how to select the best caregiver for your loved one. I recently sat down with Julie Aiken, CEO of Ameritech College of Healthcare, where we discussed four of the best ways to ensure you’ve hired a good, quality caregiver.

1. Ask for referrals

As a new, overly cautious parent, you likely asked several friends and family members to share the names of their favorite pediatricians, right? The same should most certainly be true when looking to hire a healthcare provider for your elderly loved one.

“The most important thing that I would do first is to ask people I know for a referral,” Aiken said.

Don’t limit yourself to just one referral, either. Get multiple suggestions, and ask for details. How did they choose that particular agency? What did they like best? What was the name of their caregiver? Were there ever any problems? Try to get some honest feedback so you can make a fully educated decision.

2. Research the agencies

With so many hospice and home health agencies popping up right and left that claim to provide the best caregivers for the elderly, it is your responsibility to thoroughly investigate each and every agency to ensure you are signing on for the best possible care.

Even if the agency comes with a high recommendation, you still need to do your own research. “You want to make sure that the agency has hired the professional caregiver themselves, has conducted background checks, verified education and prior in-home care experience, and carries the proper insurance for workers’ compensation claims,” said Tamar Shovali, an assistant professor of human development at Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida, who specializes in aging and caregiving.

Questions for the agency should include the following:

• Do they conduct criminal background checks?
• Is drug screening mandatory?
• Is the agency bonded and insured?
• What competencies does the agency expect the caregiver to have? Cooking? Feeding? Dressing?
• What medical training and certifications, like first aid and CPR, are required by each caregiver?
• What type of mobility training are the caregivers required to have?
• Do they conduct surprise visits?

3. Do your own background checks

After researching the agency at length, once you have been assigned a caregiver, take some time to do a background check on him or her.

“It’s important to interview, call multiple references, run background checks, and trust your gut instinct,” said Care.com’s Mary Stehle, LICSW and Senior Care Advisor.

If the caregiver is a CNA, you can search the state’s board of nursing website to verify a license. Simply type in the person’s name for a listing of any restrictions or disciplinary actions.

After you’ve done your background check, introduce the caregiver to your loved one. Let them spend some supervised time together getting to know each other to better determine if the match is a good fit.

4. Install a security camera system

For ultimate peace of mind, especially when you are away from home for long periods when the caregiver might be attending the patient alone, security cameras are a great safety measure. With new advances in technology, you can actually check in anytime, right from your smartphone.

To encourage full transparency, let the caregiver know about the cameras, mentioning that you are installing the system to not only help you monitor the overall care of your loved one while you are away but also allow you to help reinforce the caregiver’s efforts and help in disease prevention, suggested Aiken.

By closely following these four steps, doing a good amount of research and checking of references, you and your family can feel confident that your loved one will receive the very best in-home care possible.

Amy Osmond Cook wrote this article. She is executive director of the Association of Skilled Nursing Providers.