Fraunhofer-GesellschaftWeb-based Services for Older Persons and Their Relatives
Forgetfulness is an early sign of an incipient impairment of mental performance. This usually begins with the forgetting of important appointments or the misplacement of items. Not uncommonly, dementia develops, with the affected person increasingly losing orientation in his or her daily life.
“WebDA“ will help seniors especially in the Bonn/Rhein-Sieg region to remain independent for as long as possible, even as their memory power wanes. New web-based services are being designed to relieve the affected persons’ memory; support them in structuring their everyday life; counteract states of anxiety; and, by training their capacities of communication and memory, maintain their social integration.
Because persons with dementia become increasingly dependent on support over time, “WebDA“ also involves their caregiving relatives. A range of information and services tailored to the individual needs of the affected person is intended to help prevent the overburdening of caregivers.
In implementing its service package, “WebDA“ utilizes the latest developments in the field of “ubiquitous web applications” (Internet of Things). By means of user and device profiles, the system is adapted to the personal preferences and circumstances of the users. The range of services being created includes applications to aid dementia sufferers in finding misplaced objects. This involves the further development of radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology to allow lost items to be reliably located – in a way that is appropriate for seniors, with minimal use of technical devices.
