Tool to help caregivers find items lost by people with dementia
An Automated System for Caregivers and Staff to Locate Items Misplaced by Personswith Dementia in a Care Facility
A tracking system that helps caregivers in memory care homes quickly locate personal items misplaced by people living with dementia.
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 ID | NIH-11181987 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If I live in a memory care or long-term care home, this project will put small trackers on personal items and use ultra-wideband sensors to show staff where things are inside the building. The company will refine hardware and software from an earlier phase and install the system in real memory care centers for testing. Care staff will use an app or dashboard to find misplaced or hidden items while researchers measure time saved and changes in caregiving interruptions. The goal is an easy-to-use system that lowers stress for residents and reduces burden on caregivers.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Residents of memory care units or long-term care facilities who have dementia and whose belongings are often misplaced or hidden are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People with dementia who live independently at home, who are not in participating facilities, or who rarely misplace items may not benefit directly from this system.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could reduce distress and care interruptions by letting staff quickly recover important belongings for residents with dementia.
How similar studies have performed: This builds on a successful Phase I project and on existing tracking technologies, though applying ultra-wideband specifically in dementia care is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Loretto, United States
- Applied Universal Dynamics Corporation — Loretto, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gibson, Paul — Applied Universal Dynamics Corporation
- Study coordinator: Gibson, Paul
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 below.