Social rhythms and nocturnal routines in community dwelling older adults

Abstract

This paper describes a pilot carried out by The Digital Health Group in Intel, in which daily social rhythms of community dwelling older adults were examined and related to objectively and subjectively recorded sleep measurements. Ten relatively healthy independently living older adults were interviewed using ethnographic processes to determine a baseline of social activities, behaviours and nocturnal sleeping routines. Each home was fitted with six sensing elements to establish and monitor daily and nocturnal activities. Sociality behaviours were explored through social contact through phone conversation and human interaction, through mobility, inside and outside the home, and through a person's self reported internal state (how they feel each day). Nocturnal rhythms were examined through actigraph watches and bed pressure sensing devices. A preliminary sub set of the results are presented in this paper in the form of case studies showing subjective and objective data sets and their comparison to social routines. © 2008 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.