Wireless Sensor Networks for Aging-in-Place: Theory and Practice

This chapter introduces wireless sensor networks (WSNs) and appraises their potential for enabling and supporting aging-in-place. A person aging in place (i.e., independently within the community) usually will experience one or several age-related medical conditions that frequently may also manifest as physical and cognitive impairments leading to functional disability in performing basic and instrumental activities of daily living (ADL/iADL). The role of WSNs in this context is to enable older citizens to age in place with autonomy, security, dignity, and reasonable quality of life, whereby medical status and general welfare is constantly yet unobtrusively monitored. Family, social, or emergency services intervention is automatically initiated based upon a situational assessment drawing upon a variety of sensor data. In the following sections, wireless smart sensor networks will be described for their technical characteristics and capabilities, the range of applications and services currently deployed through WSNs for the welfare of populations aging in place will be identified, and new and emerging capabilities will be discussed. In addition, the role of standards and regulatory requirements are considered, in particular regarding the ethical implications of WSN deployment.