Scientists in Toronto say they have are developing artificially intelligent computer systems to help elderly people suffering from memory loss stay safely in their own homes.
"Often when a person gets moderate to severe levels of impairment, they are taken out of their home and put into a care facility," says lead scientist Dr. Alex Mihailidis, a mechanical and biomedical engineer and researcher at Toronto Rehabilitation Institute.
"We are using artificial intelligence to support aging-in-place so that people can remain in their homes for as long as possible."
Mihailidis and his research team at the Intelligent Assistive Technology and Systems Lab, a joint venture of Toronto Rehab and the University, say they are the first in the world to test home-based artificial intelligence systems in clinical trials.
More than 750,000 Canadians will have Alzheimer's or a related dementia by the year 2031, the researchers say.
The systems are designed to enhance the safety of such people living at home, the researchers say.
One of their creations is a "talking" bathroom outfitted with a computer screen that provides video and verbal cues to assist with hand washing.
Clifford Solway sometimes needs some prompting for certain tasks. "I have a tendency to forget things," he admits.
However, in the intelligent home, a computer voice would prompt him.
One study found that subjects' ability to complete hand-washing without help from a caregiver increased by approximately 25 per cent when the computer prompting system was used.
The team has also developed a personal emergency response system that can detect when a person has fallen.
Using cameras mounted on the ceiling, images are fed to the computer system, which analyzes them to conclude the position of the occupant and whether or not they have fallen.
A voice recognition system will then ask the occupant if they need help.
"Often we hear of cases where an individual has fallen and is found three days later lying on the bathroom or kitchen floor. When this happens, their chances of survival and recovery are drastically reduced," said Mihailidis. "Our emergency response system will ensure they get the help they need immediately."
Another study showed that the team's emergency response system detected 77 per cent of falls staged in the lab.
"Our systems are not intended to replace professional or family caregivers. However, the results from our studies are encouraging and show that the use of artificial intelligence in a home setting can provide safety and security and enhance the quality of life for older adults who would like to remain in their homes as they age," Mihailidis said.
This could also assist those giving informal care to loved ones.
More than 1.7 million adults between the ages of 45 and 64 provided such care to nearly 2.3 million seniors with long-term disabilities or physical limitations in 2002, according to a Statistics Canada study released in November.
While most low-intensity caregivers felt few or no socio-economic consequences, high-intensity caregiving had a significant impact for more than half of all female caregivers, regardless of their work hours.
"Caregiving had some significant job-related consequences," the government agency reports.
"Individuals providing four hours or more of care per week were more likely to reduce their work hours, change their work patterns or turn down a job offer or promotion."
With a report from CTV's Avis Favaro and Elizabeth St. Philip
