REMOTE MONITORING OF HEALTH-STATUS OF THE ELDERLY AT HOME - A MULTIDISCIPLINARY PROJECT ON AGING AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW-SOUTH-WALES

This paper discusses the design and implementation of a multidisciplin ary research project and associated field trials to test the hypothesi s that functional health status amongst the elderly can be accurately determined remotely by continuously monitoring relatively simple param eters that measure the interaction between participants and their envi ronment. In this study we propose that changes in such simple measures as mobility, sleep patterns, and utilisation of cooking, washing and toilet facilities, can identify changes in functional health status. O ne of the primary end goals of the project will be to automatically pr ompt appropriate, timely and cost-effective intervention of medical an d community based services to help reduce morbidity and maintain an in dependent high quality of life for the elderly. Targeted intervention will diminish the demand for high cost medical services. This will hav e large potential economic implications in helping to contain and redu ce the increasing cost of providing health care services to the aged.