Poor sleep quality, the risk of falls, and urinary incontinence are three highly prevalent health conditions among the elderly population, significantly impacting their quality of life and limiting their well-being and social participation. To validate intervention methodologies that could improve these health issues, Aldaba, Clínica Cobián, and Geriatros, in collaboration with the RNASA-Imedir research group from the Universidade da Coruña – through the ICT Research Center and the Inibic Biomedical Research Institute – have joined forces in an innovation project, Geria-TIC. By the end of 2018, this project will monitor the real impact of physical exercise routines and healthy habits on elderly users in Geriatros centers, using wearable devices (activity bracelets and biomedical data readers), as explained by Laura Nieto, occupational therapist at RNASA-Imedir.
“We want to determine if reinforcing physical and cognitive activities for the elderly can improve these three factors that affect their quality of life and limit their empowerment,” states Alejandro Pazos, Professor of Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence at UDC and head of the research group.
In this initial phase, Javier Pereira from RNASA-Imedir explains that the focus is on analyzing existing devices on the market. The study will primarily utilize activity bracelets designed to record parameters such as the user’s physical activity or sleep cycles. It will also employ more specialized devices to measure the intensity with which, in the case of urinary incontinence, the patient performs pelvic floor exercise routines prescribed by Clínica Cobián.