Project Overview

Many long-term care (LTC) homes are starting to use real-time location tracking systems (RTLS) to locate where their residents are at a given time or to find equipment. However, there is an opportunity to use information about someone’s movements or walking path over time to tell us something about their health status. For example, individuals’ daily walking distance can tell us about their level of activity, or the time spent in the proximity of others can tell us about their social interactions. As such, this study aims to accelerate the use of RTLS in improving health and well-being for older adults living in LTC homes.  Like most sensor data, RTLS data is not clinically useful in its raw form; rather, algorithms are needed to transform this information to help clinicians make decisions. In this study, we aim to harness RTLS data to create Space-Time Indices for Clinical Support (STICS).  We will validate these STICS and evaluate their use for clinical decision-making.  This project also integrates stakeholder consultation and an ethical and policy analysis of the use of RTLS technology in LTC, to allow us to pro-actively address ethical concerns at all phases of development and implementation.