LoRa-based IoT Platform for Monitoring Dementia Patients’ Wandering Behaviour

Abstract

Abstract Dementia is a syndrome significantly impacting the daily lives of individuals, predominantly among the elderly population. It leads to a deterioration in cognitive capabilities, encompassing memory, concentration, reaction time, problem-solving abilities, and difficulties in language articulation and word recall. Due to the impairments in spatial awareness, memory deficits, restlessness, and agitation commonly observed in individuals with dementia, there is a significant propensity for these patients to wander. Wandering behavior in dementia patients is a critical issue, as it can lead to disorientation, exposure to hazardous environments, and difficulties in returning home. Various types of wandering behaviors have been identified, such as aimless wandering, pacing, lapping, and shadowing. These behaviors can be triggered by anxiety, confusion, unmet needs, or an attempt to find a familiar location or person. Managing wandering behavior requires continuous supervision, which places a substantial burden on caregivers. To address this issue, This study mainly focuses on developing a wearable IoT (Internet of Things) device equipped with LoRa modules for real-time tracking and intelligent monitoring of dementia wandering patients. LoRa technology supports the development of low-energy, long-range Internet of Things (IoT) devices, and LoRa modules serve as essential components in our IoT platforms, facilitating the transmission of sensory data to central applications and enhancing remote monitoring capabilities. The wearable device is being developed with a cost-effective approach, primarily aimed at middle and low-income countries with high dementia prevalence and prohibitive healthcare costs. Designed for energy efficiency, these devices minimize the need for frequent charging, thereby ensuring consistent operation and improving practicality for dementia patients who may be prone to forgetting to recharge. The proposed IoT platform provides continuous location monitoring, ensuring timely intervention by caregivers to prevent potential dangers. Continuous data on patient movement collected via wearable devices is transmitted to the cloud for machine learning, trajectory analysis, and anomaly detection to identify wandering scenarios. The IoT platform is engineered to integrate multiple wearable devices and sensors, forming a comprehensive medical suite for dementia patients. The integration of wearable devices allows the pre-processing of movement data on the device, reducing network latency and optimizing response times for critical alerts. The web application is designed with an intuitive user interface and incorporates features such as caregiver alerts, multi-user sup-

port, and historical tracking data visualization. A smart detection strategy is suggested in order to guarantee that wearable technology is utilized regularly and to offer dementia patients efficient monitoring. In order to detect when the wearable is no longer in contact with the body, it combines sensors like bioimpedance, capacitive touch, and inertial measurement unit (IMU). This enables the system to react instantly, assisting caregivers in maintaining trustworthy supervision by either sending alarms or initiating other required actions. Given the sensitivity of patient location data, the system integrates end-to-end encryption added in the LoRa module and secure cloud storage to safeguard user privacy. Designed for middle and low-income countries, the solution prioritizes affordability by leveraging cost-effective hardware and open-source technologies. The device enhances patient safety, promotes independent living, and reduces the risks associated with wandering behavior in dementia patients. The design and development of the proposed IoT platform focused on user-centric design and design science research methodology. This research has the potential to improve the quality of life for individuals with dementia and simplify the responsibilities of family members, caregivers, and healthcare providers.