Remote monitoring system aims to keep elderly safe and healthy

The GiraffPlus project, led by researchers at Örebro University, Sweden, has been developing technical solutions that make it possible to continuously monitor an elderly person’s health through a network of sensors in the home.

According to a statement, the sensors can measure blood pressure and body temperature, register movements and detect if someone is lying still for an unusually long period of time, or takes a sudden fall.

The information from the sensors is analysed by an intelligent system, designed to quickly alert the caregiver in emergencies, but it can also be used for long-term assessment of the patient’s health.

‘The system is designed to be able to, for instance, chart an individual’s sleeping pattern. By measuring the level of activity in the apartment during the night, the system helps both the patient and the caregiver to form a picture of the situation and adequate measures can be introduced,’ said Prof Silvia Coradeschi from the robotics research centre AASS at Örebro University, which is coordinating the project.