The future of healthcare 31
Dementia study heralded as future of healthcare
A pioneering project by Surrey’s 5G Innovation Centre and Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust could pave the way for dementia patients to be cared for at home through the use of advanced communications technology.
Like thousands of people across the UK, Marion Edwards is the main carer for a loved one with dementia: her husband John. Well aware of the many challenges this condition brings, the couple agreed to become early stage ‘trusted users’ in the TIHM (Technology Integrated Health Management) study, which is trialling the use of a range of mobile communications devices to monitor dementia patients in their own homes.
“One of the main attractions of this study is that it can alert you to potential health problems before they become too serious, which I hope will help us to avoid A&E,” says Marion. “It also provides you with peace of mind when you have to go out and leave the person you’re caring for in the home.”
John adds: “I think this technology could be extremely useful for people with dementia. We know someone who could not get a carer, so had to stay in hospital for longer than they needed to. If they had this sort of technology, they would have been able to go home much sooner.”
The TIHM trial, which is being conducted with 700 patients with mild to moderate dementia and 700 carers, draws on Surrey’s expertise in emerging IoT (Internet of Things) technology and includes eight device manufacturers. Electronic engineers within the 5G Innovation Centre have created the complex ‘back end’ system which processes the data being picked up by the devices. Using machine learning algorithms, this then provides ‘alerts’ which appear on screens monitored by a team at the Abraham Cowley Unit in Chertsey, an acute therapy service.
In addition to measuring health indicators such as a patient’s temperature, weight, body mass index and blood pressure, the technology also collects information about their movements around the home, producing an immediate alert if they are wandering too far away or have had a fall. Sensors on fridges, kettles and toasters are used to analyse whether someone is eating and drinking as usual.
Dr Payam Barnaghi of the 5G Innovation Centre, who is the project’s Technical Lead, said: “When combined, this type of information can be very useful. For example, a sensor on the bathroom door tells us how oſten the patient uses the bathroom, and another device on the bed measures sweat levels. These readings, together with a raised body temperature, could be an early indication of a urinary tract infection which, if untreated, oſten leads to the person being admitted to hospital.
“You can learn a great deal from people’s daily patterns. If someone starts opening the fridge door repeatedly, that could be a sign of agitation, while a pressure sensor in an armchair can tell us if someone has been inactive for a long period of time.”
The overall aim of the TIHM trial is to enable dementia sufferers to remain in their homes for as long as possible – something that will benefit both patients and the healthcare system. Leading dementia specialist Dr Ramin Nilforooshan of Surrey and Borders Partnerships NHS Foundation Trust said: “We know that hospital admissions result in reduced function for dementia patients. They oſten become more confused
and are also more likely to pick up an infection or have a fall. Enabling them to remain at home means a better quality of life.”
In addition, the current model of dementia care urgently needs updating. Caring for dementia patients currently costs £23 billion a year, which is more than cardiac disease and cancer care combined and, with longer life expectancies, this is rising.
“Using this technology, we will be able to provide care based on a patient’s needs, reducing the burden on carers and hospitals,” said Dr Nilforooshan. “Although the current trial focuses on dementia care, it could translate to any chronic illness such as diabetes, asthma, and depression or anxiety. This is the future of healthcare.”
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