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SenseWell: Using sensors to support independent living

Tagged:
  • Community and Social Inequalities

The SenseWell project is part of the “Transforming care and health at home” research programme, a £10 million investment in 14 projects across the UK.

It is a feasibility study investigating whether sensors can help to identify health risks and changing conditions, to support independent living at home. It will answer three key questions:​​

  • Can sensors identify changing health conditions?​
  • Should sensors be used, are they acceptable to people?​
  • Who, and how, could sensors be used to improve independent living?

SenseWell builds on the success of Smartline, a multi-partner European-funded initiative which showed the potential of sensors to spot changes and predict risks to independent living. ​

We will work with participants to install sensors that monitor the home environment, including factors such as temperature, humidity, CO2, and electricity consumption. ​

The readings will be collected by a data hub which residents can view through a dashboard, providing a visual display of sensor outputs.​ These data will allow us to develop machine learning tools that can identify changes in living conditions and help predict health risks.

Examples of the insights sensors could reveal:

  • Over time, an occupant may use electricity increasingly later in the day, which could indicate gradual long-term changes in physical or mental health.​
  • Air quality is influenced by a person occupying a room. Changes in air quality may reflect a change in routine, such as reduced activity.​
  • Changes in the temperature in the living room might indicate that an occupant has not been able to get out of bed today

SenseWell is a transdisciplinary project involving several partners, including the University of Exeter, Coastline Housing, Age UK Cornwall and Isles of Scilly, Cornwall Council Public Health, NHS Leatside Health Centre, and our Health and Environment Public Engagement Group.

SenseWell: Using sensors to support independent living

Authors

  • Prof Emma Bland

    Prof Emma Bland

  • Dr Tamaryn Menneer

    Dr Tamaryn Menneer

  • Dr Kath Maguire

    Dr Kath Maguire

  • Dr Richard Sharpe

    Dr Richard Sharpe

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European Centre for Environment and Human Health

University of Exeter Medical School

Peter Lanyon Building 12

Penryn, Cornwall, TR10 8RD

  • T: +44 (0) 1326 371859
  • E: ECEHHAdmin@exeter.ac.uk

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