Automated system to help caregivers find items misplaced by people with dementia
Official title: An Automated System for Caregivers and Staff to Locate Items Misplaced by Personswith Dementia in a Care Facility
Funded at Applied Universal Dynamics Corporation · NIH-11419660 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A smart, automated UWB-based system helps caregivers in memory care and other facilities quickly locate items that people with dementia may misplace or hide.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Applied Universal Dynamics Corporation NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Loretto, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2019 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $968,011 |
| NIH project number | 5R44AG065130-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11419660 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are memory care centers and long-term care facilities serving people with dementia or memory-related cognitive impairment who manage frequent item loss.
✕Less likely to help
Facilities without significant issues with item loss or those not using dementia care may see limited benefit.
What this research studies
This project builds an automated ultra-wideband system to help care staff in memory care centers and long-term facilities locate lost items. It focuses on practical, user-friendly technology to reduce time spent searching and lessen interruptions in daily care. The approach involves caregivers and staff using a digital solution integrated into daily routines to improve item tracking and care delivery.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this system could save time for caregivers and reduce stress from missing belongings, improving overall care quality.
How similar studies have gone: Past phase I work showed that staff rely on devices to provide seamless care, with missing items causing care interruptions; this phase II aims to build on that success.
Where this research is happening
-
Applied Universal Dynamics Corporation
Loretto, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gibson, Paul — Applied Universal Dynamics Corporation
- Study coordinator: Gibson, Paul
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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.