Investigating the Use of Utility Monitoring as a Means of Recognizing Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) to Enable Independent Living Among People Living with Dementia

Dementia can make it difficult for individuals to live independently, impacting their ability to carry out activities of daily living (ADLs). ADL data is frequently screened by clinicians using manual screening tools such as Katz’ Index of Independence in Activities, Lawton Brody, and Barthel Index, to detect a degradation in the ability to complete ADLs. Identifying whether a person living with dementia (PLwD) can carry out an ADL can allow for early support to be provided.

This study explores the potential of utility monitoring to identify and monitor ADL achievement in PLwD. By leveraging Internet of Things (IoT) solutions and smart home sensors, including thermal sensors, door contacts, vibration sensors, wearable, motion sensors and smart plugs, utility monitoring is employed to capture ADL data. Through an open-source software framework, these sensors are integrated into a scalable and cost-effective architecture, enabling the real-time monitoring water and electricity usage. By analysing the data collected from these utilities, specific ADLs can be inferred, providing valuable insights into the daily routines and behaviours of PLwD.

This research contributes to the growing field of smart home sensor monitoring for ADL identification in dementia care. The results obtained from this study shed light on the feasibility and effectiveness of utility monitoring as a non-intrusive and scalable approach for supporting independent living in PLwD. The findings show potential areas for the development of innovative assistive technologies to enhance the quality of life for individuals with dementia and alleviate caregiver burden.