Striving to Provide Safety Assistance for Families of Elders

TLDR

The study describes installing and evaluating an Internet‑based monitoring system in the homes of 19 dementia‑caregiver families over 24 weeks, focusing on integration challenges and caregiver experiences. The system comprises cameras and sensors routed through a controller to a broadband computer and website, which sends text alerts to caregivers’ cell phones. Results show that, despite challenges, the technology can facilitate family caregiving.

Abstract

We describe the process of installing a monitoring system in the homes of 19 families who were caring for a relative with dementia, and evaluating the use of the system for 24 weeks. The system is Internet-based and consists of cameras and sensors that are routed through a controller unit via a broadband-connected computer to a web site. From the web site, text messages indicating sensor activity are sent to a cell phone that alerts caregivers to activity in the home. Specifically, we discuss ‘behind the scenes’ issues associated with bundling the various technologies together and installing and maintaining the technologies in caregivers’ homes, describe the challenges that caregivers confronted while using the technology, and summarize caregivers’ experiences with the technologies over the 24-week assessment period. Results indicate that, although the use of technology is not without challenge, it has the potential to facilitate family caregiving.