Supporting People with Dementia During Night Time: NOCTURNAL (Night Optimised Care Technology for UseRs Needing Assisted Lifestyle)

Maurice Mulvenna U L S T E R U N I V E R S I T Y ’ S S C H O O L O F C O M P U T I N G & M A T H E M A T I C S

2015 IPA International Congress 13-16 October – Berlin, Germany

Outline

Related Work / Context Background Introduction to the project Objectives, approach and methodology Person-centred approach Findings Conclusions

2015 IPA International Congress 13-16 October – Berlin, Germany

2015 IPA International Congress 13-16 October – Berlin, Germany

Related Research

Source: Thickett, J., (2006) Connecting Older People: Consumer Engagement with Digital Services, Ofcom Report

2015 IPA International Congress 13-16 October – Berlin, Germany

Related Research

Source: Thickett, J., (2006) Connecting Older People: Consumer Engagement with Digital Services, Ofcom Report

2015 IPA International Congress 13-16 October – Berlin, Germany

Related Research

Source: Thickett, J., (2006) Connecting Older People: Consumer Engagement with Digital Services, Ofcom Report

2015 IPA International Congress 13-16 October – Berlin, Germany

Research objectives

NOCTURNAL was designed to address the needs of people at the early stages of dementia, specifically to provide therapeutic support and guidance to this group of people during the hours of darkness

Broad Objectives: § provide new technological capabilities that support sophisticated service offerings § Investigate needs of people with dementia at night time

2015 IPA International Congress 13-16 October – Berlin, Germany

Research Questions

•  How to monitor and assess the quantity and quality of sleep objectively and ubiquitously?

•  How does sleep pattern change over the course of various disease types?

•  What variables should be used to assess sleep patterns?

•  What feedback format can be used in telecare service?

•  What support can be provided to ameliorate sleep disturbances suffered by people with dementia?

2015 IPA International Congress 13-16 October – Berlin, Germany

Approach

§ Utilise technology invisible to the users, that can empower the carer, adopting appropriate assistive technologies from daytime usage § Provide lighting guidance to assist with the trip from bedroom to toilet (and back!) during the night § Offer therapeutic interventions using music and familiar images of loved ones at bedside device

2015 IPA International Congress 13-16 October – Berlin, Germany

Components

§ Motion monitoring devices § Bedside audio/video system § Web-based interface § Database and intelligent data analysis tools

2015 IPA International Congress 13-16 October – Berlin, Germany

NOCTURNAL Architecture

2015 IPA International Congress 13-16 October – Berlin, Germany

NOCTURNAL Sensor settings

2015 IPA International Congress 13-16 October – Berlin, Germany

Conceptual architecture

2015 IPA International Congress 13-16 October – Berlin, Germany

Devices

2015 IPA International Congress 13-16 October – Berlin, Germany

Sensors

2015 IPA International Congress 13-16 October – Berlin, Germany

Person Centred Application

Requirements § Promote independence, dignity and choice § Maximise social inclusion § Provide lower level information and support services

Outcomes § Expanded portfolio of service interventions for persons with dementia based on assessed need

2015 IPA International Congress 13-16 October – Berlin, Germany

Person stories

•  Evidence of night time activity but no memory of it •  Unexplained ‘wandering’ and unable to return home •  Puts walking aid at front door hoping that this will stop her

leaving the house •  Aware of memory loss but wants to remain at home •  Prone to falling •  Goes into the kitchen but can’t remember why

2015 IPA International Congress 13-16 October – Berlin, Germany

Developing Solutions •  Understanding and interpreting the data •  What can we do to guide and prevent an incident •  How can care giver participate in the intervention/care

plan? •  How can we adapt the system to signal change? •  Who needs to know what? •  The role of the response centre

2015 IPA International Congress 13-16 October – Berlin, Germany

CASE STUDY: MRS. F’S SLEEP PATTERN

2015 IPA International Congress 13-16 October – Berlin, Germany

Case Study: Mr M’s sleep pattern

2015 IPA International Congress 13-16 October – Berlin, Germany

Results

•  n=8 individual participants with dementia completed the 3 month final evaluation phase of the project with fully deployed systems

•  Different sleep patterns observed between the clients are consistent with the clinical observation that most people with dementia suffer sleep disturbance, have more sleep episodes and lower sleep quality

2015 IPA International Congress 13-16 October – Berlin, Germany

Conclusions

•  People with early dementia may have different sleep pattern

•  It is feasible to detect unusual sleep patterns and monitor the trend of the changes

•  This approach could also be used to provide information for the prevention of the risks of other mental health issues that might be triggered by the sleep disorder

2015 IPA International Congress 13-16 October – Berlin, Germany

Before and after…

2015 IPA International Congress 13-16 October – Berlin, Germany

Thanks & Acknowledgements

This research is supported by a research grant from the Technology Strategy Board and Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, UK (TS/G002452/1).

T h an k you fo r l i s ten i n g Maur ice Mulvenna U ls ter Un ivers i t y

m d . m u l v e n n a @ u l s t e r . a c . u k @ m a u r i c e m u l v e n n a