Multimodal activity monitoring for home rehabilitation of geriatric fracture patients--feasibility and acceptance of sensor systems in the GAL-NATARS study.

Background: Demographic change will lead to a diminishing care workforce faced with rising numbers of older persons in need of care, suggesting meaningful use of health-enabling technologies, and home monitoring in particular, to contribute to supporting both the carers and the persons in need.

Objectives: We present and discuss the GAL-NATARS study design along with first results regarding technical feasibility of long-term home monitoring and acceptance of different sensor modalities.

Methods: Fourteen geriatric participants with mobility-impairing fractures were recruited in three geriatric clinics.

Information and communication technologies for promoting and sustaining quality of life, health and self-sufficiency in ageing societies--outcomes of the Lower Saxony Research Network Design of Environments for Ageing (GAL).

Many societies across the world are confronted with demographic changes, usually related to increased life expectancy and, often, relatively low birth rates. Information and communication technologies (ICT) may contribute to adequately support senior citizens in aging societies with respect to quality of life and quality and efficiency of health care processes. For investigating and for providing answers on whether new information and communication technologies can contribute to keeping, or even improving quality of life, health and self-sufficiency in ageing societies through new ways of living and new forms of care, the Lower Saxony Research Network Design of Environments for Ageing (GAL) had been established as a five years research project, running from 2008 to 2013.

Sensors vs. experts - a performance comparison of sensor-based fall risk assessment vs. conventional assessment in a sample of geriatric patients.

Background: Fall events contribute significantly to mortality, morbidity and costs in our ageing population. In order to identify persons at risk and to target preventive measures, many scores and assessment tools have been developed. These often require expertise and are costly to implement.

A clinical study to assess fall risk using a single waist accelerometer.

Falls have various causes and are often associated with mobility impairments. Preventive steps to avoid falls may be initiated, if an increasing fall risk could be detected in time. The objective of this article is to identify an automated sensor-based method to determine fall risk of patients based on objectively measured gait parameters.

Assessing elderly persons' fall risk using spectral analysis on accelerometric data--a clinical evaluation study.

Falls are among the leading causes for morbidity, mortality and lasting functional disability in the elderly population. Several studies have shown the applicability of accelerometry to detect persons with a high fall risk. Most of these studies have been conducted under laboratory settings and without clear definition of 'fall risk' reference measures.