A robot that helps detect falls in nursing home residents with Alzheimer's disease.
Official title: Autonomous Navigating Robot for Detecting Falls and Risk of Falls in Nursing Home Residents with Alzheimer's Disease /ADRD
Funded at Vigorous Mind, INC. · NIH-10698704 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a smart robot that can help keep nursing home residents with Alzheimer's safe by watching for falls and alerting caregivers when they happen, making sure everyone gets the help they need quickly.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 1 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vigorous Mind, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Newton, United States) |
| Project start | September 18, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $450,000 |
| NIH project number | 1R43AG082599-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10698704 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are nursing home residents aged 21 and older who have been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or related dementias.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not residing in nursing homes or those without cognitive impairments may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing an autonomous robot designed to detect falls and assess the risk of falls among nursing home residents suffering from Alzheimer's disease and related disorders. The robot will utilize advanced artificial intelligence to monitor residents' movements and provide timely alerts to caregivers when a fall is detected. By addressing the limitations of existing fall detection systems, which often compromise privacy and effectiveness, this project aims to enhance the safety and well-being of vulnerable elderly populations. The research will involve testing the robot in real nursing home environments to evaluate its performance and impact on fall-related incidents.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly reduce the incidence of falls and related injuries among nursing home residents with Alzheimer's disease, improving their overall quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: While there have been various fall detection systems, the use of an autonomous robot specifically designed for this population is a novel approach that has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
-
Vigorous Mind, INC.
Newton, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Malinsky, Yuval — Vigorous Mind, INC.
- Study coordinator: Malinsky, Yuval
Related research
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.