[Study] Examining the Impact of Remote Monitoring to Support Older Adults to Age-in-Place in British Columbia

The Centre for Technology Adoption for Aging in the North at the University of Northern British Columbia in partnership with the Ministry of Health, Centre for Technology Adoption for Aging in British Columbia, and provincial health authorities, and supported by the United Way British Columbia, are happy to announce a new research project taking place in your community: “Examining the Impact of Remote Monitoring to Support Older Adults to Age-in-Place in British Columbia”.  

Through the use of remote monitoring systems, this research project is designed to support improved safety for older adults while aging-in-place in community, delay the need to transition to long-term care homes, and enhance support for caregivers. Remote monitoring systems usually involve placing sensors inside a home to monitor things like wandering, falls, activity, and medication adherence, of the older adult living in that home. The sensors are connected to a phone or computer of a caregiver who could be a spouse, friend, adult child, or another individual who cares for the older adult. This allows the caregiver to support the older adult in the home without being physically present all the time.  

We are recruiting pairs of participants: an older adult (65+) living in community who utilizes/needs homecare health or community support services and their caregiver, who may be a spouse, friend, adult child, or other individual supporting the older adult. The pair do not need to live together to participate.  

If you (and your partner) choose to participate, you will work with the CTAAN Research Team to choose a remote monitoring system that best suits your needs. This research project is for 1-year, and during that time you will have the remote monitoring technology installed in your/the older adult partners home and will be asked to complete short phone check-ins/surveys/interviews about your experiences with the remote monitoring system, and whether events such as falls, or emergency room visits, occurred.  

Participant pairs will not be required to pay for any of the technologies or associated subscriptions during the 1-year research project. At the completion of all research project activities, participant pairs will receive a $200 honorarium total in acknowledgment of their time and contributions. Participation is voluntary and there will be no negative consequences to employment, health care, or other benefits should participating be declined. This project has been reviewed and undergone harmonized ethics review.  

If you have any questions or would like to participate, please contact the CTAAN Research Team at ctaabcp3@unbc.ca or call us at 250.960.6143.