Azziza Bankole1, Martha S Anderson2, Nutta Homdee3, Ridwan Alam3, Ashley Lofton4, Nykesha Fyffe4, Hilda Goins4, Temple Newbold5, Tonya Smith-Jackson4, John Lach3,6. 1. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, Roanoke, VA, USA. 2. Department of Interprofessionalism, Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, Roanoke, VA, USA. 3. Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA. 4. Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, NC, USA. 5. Department of Geriatric Medicine, Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, Roanoke, VA, USA. 6. Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Caregiver burden associated with dementia-related agitation is one of the commonest reasons a community-dwelling person with dementia (PWD) transitions to a care facility. Behavioral and Environmental Sensing and Intervention for Dementia Caregiver Empowerment (BESI) is a system of body-worn and in-home sensors developed to provide continuous, noninvasive agitation assessment and environmental context monitoring to detect early signs of agitation and its environmental triggers. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: This mixed methods, remote ethnographic study is explored in a 3-phase, multiyear plan. In Phase 1, we developed and refined the BESI system and completed usability studies. Validation of the system and the development of dyad-specific models of the relationship between agitation and the environment occurred in Phase 2. RESULTS: Phases 1 and 2 results facilitated targeted changes in BESI, thus improving its overall usability for the final phase of the study, when real-time notifications and interventions will be implemented. CONCLUSION: Our results show a valid relationship between the presence of dementia related agitation and environmental factors and that persons with dementia and their caregivers prefer a home-based monitoring system like BESI.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Caregiver burden associated with dementia-related agitation is one of the commonest reasons a community-dwelling person with dementia (PWD) transitions to a care facility. Behavioral and Environmental Sensing and Intervention for Dementia Caregiver Empowerment (BESI) is a system of body-worn and in-home sensors developed to provide continuous, noninvasive agitation assessment and environmental context monitoring to detect early signs of agitation and its environmental triggers. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: This mixed methods, remote ethnographic study is explored in a 3-phase, multiyear plan. In Phase 1, we developed and refined the BESI system and completed usability studies. Validation of the system and the development of dyad-specific models of the relationship between agitation and the environment occurred in Phase 2. RESULTS: Phases 1 and 2 results facilitated targeted changes in BESI, thus improving its overall usability for the final phase of the study, when real-time notifications and interventions will be implemented. CONCLUSION: Our results show a valid relationship between the presence of dementia related agitation and environmental factors and that persons with dementia and their caregivers prefer a home-based monitoring system like BESI.
Authors: Virginia LeBaron; Rachel Bennett; Ridwan Alam; Leslie Blackhall; Kate Gordon; James Hayes; Nutta Homdee; Randy Jones; Yudel Martinez; Emmanuel Ogunjirin; Tanya Thomas; John Lach Journal: JMIR Form Res Date: 2020-08-26
Authors: James Chung-Wai Cheung; Bryan Pak-Hei So; Ken Hok Man Ho; Duo Wai-Chi Wong; Alan Hiu-Fung Lam; Daphne Sze Ki Cheung Journal: Front Psychiatry Date: 2022-09-16 Impact factor: 5.435