BACKGROUND
With the number of older people living alone continuously rising, health-monitoring systems using information and communication technology (ICT) have been developed to manage their health issues. Life logging, a type of ICT, has been adapted to manage and monitor health status of the elderly. However, its feasibility and efficacy remain unclear.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to examine the feasibility of a life logging system combined with human body communication technology and its effect on the physical and psychological status of older adults living alone.
METHODS
The life logging system, which consisted of a wearable watch, touchpad sensors, TouchCare application, and context-aware artificial intelligence, was developed by DNX Co. Ltd and used by the participants for 5 months. Out of the 111 selected participants, 91 replied to the satisfaction survey, and 22 participated in further investigation regarding their physical and psychological status. Finally, health assessment and sensor data from 14 participants (mean age=77.4; SD=3.8) were analyzed to compare their health status and health-related behaviors before and after use of the system.
RESULTS
Out of the 91 participants who took the survey, 51.6% were satisfied with the system. Nutritional status (pre-intervention (10.6± 2.0) vs. post-intervention (11.8± 1.9), P=0.04) and fall efficacy (pre-intervention (89.2± 15.3) vs. post-intervention (99.9± 0.5), P=0.001) significantly improved after use of the system. Chronic pain (pre-intervention (4.8± 2.5) vs. post-intervention (4.4± 3.7), P=0.78) and depressive symptoms (pre-intervention (5.7± 3.9) vs. post-intervention (5.4± 3.1), P=0.60) reduced, while cognitive function (pre-intervention (4.1± 1.4) vs. post-intervention (4.6± 1.1), P=0.15) and physical performance related to walking improved (pre-intervention (3.9± 0.2) vs. post-intervention (4.0± 0), P=0.35), but were not significant. Behaviors related to physical activity and gait improved after use of the system; touch counts of refrigerator and microwave also increased with a decrease in night touch counts.
CONCLUSIONS
The life logging system was acceptable to older people living alone, and it efficiently managed their daily living while promoting their health-related behaviors. Further experimental studies are required to verify the effectiveness of the system, and to develop the system which meet the individualized needs of older people living alone.