Universität Oldenburg
Fakultät VI, Department für Versorungsforschung
Abteilung Automatisierungs- und Messtechnik
Ammerländer Heerstraße 140
D - 26129 Oldenburg

Research Interests

• Technology for healthy ageing
• Technology-supported geriatric assessment
• Activity recognition and assessment using wearable sensors

Dissertation Topic

Technology-supported geriatric analysis of mobility and independent living

Abstract

In the AEQUIPA subproject 4 "Technology" the functional reduction and thus the loss of mobility and independence in old age are investigated within the VERSA study. In addition to a common geriatric assessment with technical support, wearable sensors are used to record the physical activity under everyday conditions for one week at home.
One aim is to investigate whether the results gained by a classical geriatric assessment can also be obtained by wearable sensors and technical devices. For this purpose, the assessments are carried out in classical and technical terms (sensor belt, ground reaction force plates, light barriers, etc.). If technology-assisted assessments or a one-week wearing of a sensor belt have the same significance and validity like common geriatric assessments concerning mobility and independence, the inclusion of technical devices could be a significant support for medical staff and a workload reduction.
The mentioned sensor belts record the acceleration, rotation, magnetism and the air pressure so that a mobility analysis of everyday activities can be carried out using appropriate algorithms. Existing algorithms will be specialized for the analysis of the movements of older adults. Furthermore, everyday activities will be investigated by technology-assisted methods in detail. This approach may lead to stronger indicators for the functional reduction or loss of independent living and mobility, compared to classical geriatric assessment.

Academic Supervision

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Andreas Hein, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Health Services Research, Division of Systems in Medical Engineering