Researchers are developing a system that predicts the movements of people with dementia in a bid to alert carers to any possible dangers.
The ultimate aim is to give carers enough confidence to allow dementia patients more freedom to roam around.
The number of people with dementia in Malta was estimated to be 5,301 in 2013, equivalent to about 1.26 per cent of the population.
As the population ages, the number is expected to increase significantly and it is projected that 9,883 people will have the condition by 2030.
“Dementia is a reality and we need to do something about it. I’ve spent hours observing people with dementia and I’ve seen their pain and frustration,” principal investigator Conrad Attard said.
Dr Attard, a lecturer at the Faculty of Information and Communication Technology, noted that carers of people with dementia did not only look after them but also tried to protect them.
The carers’ lack of trust in the environment’s safety might limit the mobility of people with dementia. So the research Dr Attard is leading is focusing on one characteristic of dementia: dangerous wandering.
“We will not be stopping people with dementia from wandering, as this is a form of activity that is beneficial to their well-being. The problem arises when their wandering becomes dangerous,” he said.
This might take place in the bathroom, for example, where there is a high probability that the floor is slippery.
Also, some people with dementia might not distinguish food from similar-looking items and they would be at risk of trying to consume soap.
The researchers are using technology, which includes wearable devices, to observe the behaviour and movement of dementia patients.
Based on such patterns, they will then draw up algorithms that can anticipate actions. They are also bringing into the equation the knowledge of carers, who include relatives, nurses, doctors, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and design architects.
The problem arises when their wandering becomes dangerous
The team has already observed the behaviour of a handful of people with dementia over about four days and is now developing a simulation lab at the University. There, non-dementia sufferers will replicate dementia patients’ behaviour and the researchers will record the movements.
This is being done to avoid adding more stress to patients during the study.
This database of actions would ultimately help predict dangerous behaviour. A simple prediction could be walking out of a door that is five metres away from an uneven step.
Ideally, in real life, as soon as a person is diagnosed with dementia, such technology is used to observe their habits, challenges and dangers, so the carers can have a personalised profile of the patient.
The researchers are also creating prototypes of wrist watches or sensors ingrained in clothing to be able to record movement while being as unobtrusive as possible but more funds are needed to support this study.
The tracking device sufferers would ultimately wear is not easily noticeable. If they were wearing a watch, for example, they might forget its functionality and try to take it off. This might make them anxious and that was something the researchers definitely did not want, Dr Attard noted.
The three-year project is supported by the Research Innovation and Development Trust and Information Systems Limited.
It is being carried out in collaboration with St Vincent De Paul Residence and the University of Malta.
Volunteers interested in participating in the simulation can send an e-mail to volunteer@pem.space or to conrad.attard@um.edu.mt.