iCOPE: Intelligent context-aware patient management systems for elderly with cognitive and functional impairment

Abstract

This paper presents the design, development and features of iCOPE, a collection of innovative patient management systems that exploit the advances in context aware computing to monitor and detect highly complex behaviour of elderly with cognitive and functional impairment, and facilitate informal care-giving, therapy and clinical assessment in a context enlightened fashion. In particular, we describe the layered framework, methodologies, and application features such as continence management, agitation rating, medication management, sleep activity monitoring, telephysiotherapy and respiratory monitoring to illustrate the possibilities offered by iCOPE. A novel service oriented intervention and just-in-time therapy mechanism using uPnP which can handle both synchronous and asynchronous events is also presented. iCOPE can promote independent living and improve quality of life for elderly persons living alone, and can provide caregivers and family members with peace of mind as they know that there are systems in place to monitor their loved ones. In an institutional or nursing home setting, iCOPE can provide valuable backup since it operates round the clock and has the potential to identify anomalous behavior that might otherwise be missed which in turn can improve the quality of care for patients. It is hoped that iCOPE will extend the capabilities of monitoring to various settings, thereby encouraging the clinicians and caregivers to examine new interventions and therapy that might improve the patients' overall condition. © 2009 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.