ElderCare, also referred to as ElderTech, is a project that uses advanced technology to address the mobility and cognitive impairments of older members of the population. It specifically addresses the risks associated with living independently as these impairments progress, to help elders remain independent for as long as possible.

We are developing an integrated monitoring system that captures data about elder residents and their living environment in a noninvasive manner. It will use this data to extract patterns of activity that might indicate unsafe events. For example, a floor vibration sensor might detect that a resident has fallen, and the nurse on duty could be automatically paged. A temperature sensor might detect that a stove burner is on, while a motion sensor might detect that nobody has been in the kitchen for quite some time, at which point the monitoring system could ask the resident whether they meant to leave their stove on.

For this project, we are working with TigerPlace Apartments, a senior living community based on the "aging in place" model that emphasizes independence of its residents. We are also partnering with the Medical Automation Research Center (MARC) at the University of Virginia and the Sinclair School of Nursing at the University of Missouri.