Wireless Monitoring System for Wheelchair Users with Severe Mobility Impairment

Abstract

According to the World Health Organization, around the world there are more than 785 million people with a disability. This phenomenon is produced to a great extent by the aging of the population and the increase in chronic diseas- es. These patients may be affected physically and/or cognitively, requiring nursing care and/or family assistance to perform daily activities. Bringing new tools to families and professional caregivers to improve the care of these patients is essen- tial to increase the quality of life for both the disabled people and the caregivers. Recent advances in sensors, wireless communication systems and information technologies make possible the development of portable and wearable systems to monitor mobility impaired patients continuously during daily activities. Collecting vital signs, patient activity and ambient conditions allow the patient’s health status to be assessed, providing an extra level of safety in cases of emergency. Also this information is useful for clinicians to manage treatment and rehabilitation thera- pies. However, the main challenge is to acquire this information unobtrusively, with a minimal impact on patients’ daily life. To this end, new ways of collecting physiological information are needed.