Project Overview

The goal of this project is to examine the acceptance and usability of GuardIO - Family Care, mobile application. It supports persons with cognitive impairment and their care partners to develop risk mitigation strategies through understanding the patterns of their mobility by leveraging a cloud-based telematics platform licensed by Health Canada. This enables the care partners to receive timely care and support. This Health Canada licensed app is developed by WeTraq and available on app stores and SunLife Lumino Health marketplace. It combines GPS and WiFi to provide real-time location monitoring and safety alerts. It does not require an additional device other than one’s personal smartphone. We will use machine learning driven analytics to describe mobility patterns of participants with dementia and without dementia (care partners). This information can be used to identify changes in mobility to inform decisions about personalized care and support services. Increasing prevalence of dementia in Canada calls for strategies like GuardIO to address risks of getting lost and going missing, while supporting the health and wellbeing of persons aging in place.