Combining ICT-based assessment and nonpharmacologic stimulation approaches for the management of frail or cognitively impaired elderly individuals at home

International audienceBackground - Many clinical parameters may contribute to the loss of autonomy in aging (cognitive decline, psychological and behavioural disturbances, gait and motricity disturbances). These parameters may be difficult to identify in daily routine. the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) may provide additionnal values in the monitoring of frail elderly individuals and could potentially contribute to decrease the risk of institutionalization. The SafEE (Safe and Easy Environment) project aim is to improve the safety, autonomy and quality of life of elderly people at risk or suffering from Alzheimer's disease and related disorders. More specifically the SafEE project: - focuses on specific clinical targets in three domains: behavior, motricity and cognition - merges assessment and non pharmacological help/interventions (to limit the use of psychotropic agents in elderly populations) - proposes easy ICT device solutions for the end users.Methods - the SafEE project has developed: 1/ an ICT-based behavior analysis platform able to detect, recognize and assess daytime (such as agitation) and nighttime (such as sleep disturbances) behavioral patterns (BEHAVIOR), walking/balancing capabilities (MOTRICITY), orientation and procedural memory (COGNITION) 2/ Tailored non pharmacological therapeutic responses: -for anxiety, sleep and related behavioral disturbances, using stimulation aromatherapy automatic fragrance release system tailored to the clinical patterns detected within the assessment phase -for orientation, procedural memory and feeling of control for ICT devices, using a training interface based on Kinect sensor and tactile tablet/Smartphone.Results- 3 community-dwelling individuals with frailty syndrome and 6 institutionalized (nursing home) individuals with a diagnosis of AD have been included so far. The SafEE platform has been recording data during respectively 6 months at home and 3 months in nursing home. Preliminary results regarding ICT-based monitoring and non pharmacologic solutions will be presented.Conclusions- Our main result is that user acceptability for community-dwelling and instutionalized individuals was good, as well as professional carers usability