Implementing a Long-Term Care Management System by Using ZigBee RFID Technology

[[abstract]]Due to the progress of the medical science and the increasing number of aging people, the number of people required for long-term care is increased. The issue of long-term care becomes much more important, and it is exactly the major health issue in the 21st century. However, currently the number of available medical personnel for the long-term care is limited. The burden of medical personnel is increasing. Thus, it is urgently required to develop a management system with higher efficiency for the long-term care of aging people. This article proposes a long-term care management system with ZigBee and RFID technology, which have the capability of automatic identification, digital monitoring, gate access control, personnel tracking, and recording vital signs. The system merges the advantages of ZigBee technology and RFID technology. The system will overcome the disadvantages of the small memory size and the incapability of identification in a stand-alone ZigBee device. Moreover, it also solves the problem of communication range limitation of RIFD technology. It is continuously available to sense the vital signs of a patient and to record his/her position. The system is added with digital surveillance system and GSM messaging system to real-time monitor the patient's health status. To help the medical personnel to take care of the patient, whenever there are abnormal vital signs happening, the system will automatically give off an alarm signal and send a SMS to a pre-defined cell phone. Therefore, the system can reduce the manpower and increase the efficiency of medical care. Further, it will enhance the quality of the long-term care service of nursing centers, medical care centers, and home-stay care