More than 5 million Americans and their families live with Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementia. The National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the National Institute on Aging (NIA) embrace that many older adults want to stay in their homes as they age.
At Birkeland Current, a small lab in Waco Texas, a new technology is using home sensors to automatically detect Activities of Daily Living (ADL). When in use, these non-invasive detectors (no cameras, sound, or motion sensors) can bring any residence into the modern realm of remote assessment. An NIH Research Study is installing the technology into 140 seniors’ homes. The research will investigate activity patterns to determine challenges, and track changes. The study will work to find intervention points previously too subtle to notice. The hope is that this will become an effective tool to monitor well-being, and assist in detection of illness, injury, or decline.
The Research Study, co investigated with Baylor Scott and White Health, Texas A&M, and Georgia Tech is now open in Freestone County. Seniors are paid to participate in the 18-month study. Persons interested should be over 65, have some memory challenges, and have a helper in their home at least 6 hours a week. The helper can be a family member, volunteer, or paid caregiver. Both the senior, and caregiver can receive up to $1350. The senior’s home is set up with monitors on appliances such as stove, hot water heater, and television. The free installation takes about two hours. The senior and caregiver carry a pocket device while in the home. The caregiver answers a short phone survey once a month.
The future opportunities for this technology are promising. Imagine recovering from knee replacement surgery and, every morning your doctor gets a report on how you are progressing, Imagine the opportunity to check on an aging parent’s sleep patterns or intervene when a stove has been left on.
If you or a family member meet the criteria, you are encouraged to enroll. Contact Birkeland Current at 254 742 6030 or thru the website at https://www.birkelandcurrent.com/nia-study
