Implementation of Context-Aware Distributed Sensor Network System for Managing Incontinence Among Patients with Dementia

Incontinence is highly prevalent in Patients with Dementia (PWD) due to a decline in their physical and mental abilities. Those PWD may lie in soiled diaper for prolonged periods if timely diaper change is not in place. Current manual care practices may not be able to immediately detect soiled diaper, although costly and labor intensive scheduled checks are performed. Delays in diaper change can cause serious social and medical issues. So, timely and effective continence management is important to potentially avoid the undesirable consequences. By developing assistive system leveraging on sensors, wireless sensor network, ambient intelligence and reminders, it is feasible to detect soiled diaper and remind the carers for timely intervention. With around the clock sensing, distributed monitoring and context-aware intervention, timely diaper change is possible anywhere anytime without wasting unnecessary care-giving resources and without causing annoyances to the elderly.