A Tech Test to Keep Seniors in Their Homes Longer

The Collaborative Aging (In Place) Research Using Technology (CART) Initiative is a national study involving researchers monitoring seniors' daily activities using motion sensors and other technology installed in their residences, reports the Wall Street Journal . The sensors feed real-time data on participants' movements throughout the day, measuring how often they enter different rooms, how often they enter and exit their home, their computer use, and their walking speed. The point of CART is to determine whether researchers can monitor and detect health changes in older adults so they can live independently longer. For example, early symptoms of cognitive decline may be detected through changes in computer use or driving. The National Institutes of Health and Department of Veterans Affairs are financing the study, with researchers having installed the technology in about 50 homes with an ultimate goal of equipping about 250 homes. Participants have software set up to measure how much time they spend on their computers, while a sensor is placed under the vehicle dashboard to monitor how often participants drive. Aging in Place Technology Watch founder Laurie Orlov says systems such as CART could offer a big opportunity for managing persons sent home from the hospital who need monitoring. "It's not just alerting that someone has fallen down, but it's looking at behavior change," she notes.