To Watch or Not To Watch?

Summary: Systems ranging from Granny Cams to sensors and motion detectors are entering the market. We still have to figure out when and how to use them.

Millions of elderly people live alone, many far from family or others who might watch over them. One option emerging is that of using technology to help someone at a distance tell how things are going, using some sort of passive monitoring system. A passive system does not require the elderly person to do anything to make the system work, as opposed to "active" systems that require the elderly person to take some action, like pushing a button on an emergency response system pendant. Some passive systems put cameras in the older person's home that allow someone somewhere else to see what the camera sees. Others use sensors that can detect motion to alert others if the elderly person is not eating, has not taken their medication, or has fallen. These systems may be used to watch over elderly people who might not realize they need help, like someone with early stage Alzheimers who might forget to eat or take medications. They can also be used to detect falls or other problems as they happen, or to monitor third parties like home health aides and other home help.

Several passive monitoring systems being used in the homes of elderly individuals were described in April 2004 at the annual joint conference of the American Society on Aging and the National Council on Aging, and they illustrate some of potential benefits and potential pitfalls in these systems. Generally the solutions fall into two classes, cameras and sensors, although some systems use both.