Utilizing activity sensors to identify the behavioural activity patterns of elderly home care clients

Abstract

Purpose: The behavioural activity pattern is a behavioural and biological 24-hour rhythm. Ageing, diseases and memory disorders can change this pattern. Home care staff can utilize knowledge about the behavioural activity pattern of elderly home care clients in many ways. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether home care staff could identify the behavioural activity pattern of elderly home care clients using activity sensors, namely, actigraphs and motion sensors, could identify the behavioural activity rhythms. Materials and methods: A total of four elderly home care clients and one elderly home rehabilitation client took part in the study. The participants wore actigraphs on their wrist and motion sensors were installed in their apartment. In addition to sensor data, home care staff answered one open-ended question during each home care visit. The data collection period was two weeks. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were used in the analysis. Results: The behavioural activity pattern was easy to identify from the motion sensor data, whereas actigraph data were difficult to interpret. The home care staff members’ answers to open-ended questions reinforced the reliability of motion sensor data. Conclusions: Motion sensors are relatively cheap, unobtrusive and reliable way to identify and detect changes in the behavioural activity patterns of elderly home care clients.Implications for rehabilitation Motion sensors are cheap, user-friendly and highly accepted technology for identifying and monitoring behavioural activity rhythm. Home care staff members can use the data about elderly home care client's behavioural activity rhythm to monitor deviations to the rhythm and detect changes in client's health. The information about behavioural activity rhythm can also be utilized in planning home care visits and interventions.