Study of relations between the elderly and the care workers in the welfare facilities for the elderly, using non linear analysis of finger plethysmograms

Author

Hirohashi, Yoko ; Oyama-Higa, Mayumi ; Lee, Sang-jae

Author_Institution

Dept. of Nursing, Nayoro City Univ., Nayoro, Japan

fYear

2011

fDate

9-12 Oct. 2011

Firstpage

891

Lastpage

895

Abstract

The fingertip pulse waves of some of the elderly living in welfare facilities and a number of staff working in a daycare center for the elderly and a special nursing home for the elderly were measured several times throughout the day for a period of one or two days, and the chaotic information gained was analyzed using a non linear analysis method. As a result, differences were found in the value of the Lyapunov exponent in the fingertip pulse waves as information regarding vital signs reflecting the level of mental revitalization and the value of autonomic balance. The care workers were also asked to fill out a questionnaire. Information regarding the fingertip pulse waves of the elderly and the care workers is a basis for considering the improvement of the quality of care. Accordingly, the authors propose improvements in the content of the care work.

Keywords

Lyapunov methods; geriatrics; health care; patient care; plethysmography; Lyapunov exponent; care workers; daycare center; elderly living; finger plethysmograms; fingertip pulse waves; mental revitalization; nonlinear analysis method; nursing home; welfare facilities; Conferences; Cybernetics; Fingers; Pulse measurements; Senior citizens; Time measurement; Lyapunov exponent; autonomic balance; care work improvements; non linear analysis; pulse waves;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Systems, Man, and Cybernetics (SMC), 2011 IEEE International Conference on

Conference_Location

Anchorage, AK

ISSN

1062-922X

Print_ISBN

978-1-4577-0652-3

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/ICSMC.2011.6083764

Filename

6083764