Technologies for monitoring activities of daily living in older adults: a systematic review

Abstract

Purpose

As the older adult population rise globally, technologies to monitoring activities of daily living (ADL) may have a role in supporting aging in place for older adults. The objective of this systematic literature review was to study the scope, diversity and readiness of technologies developed to monitor ADL in older adults.

Methods

We systematically searched two scientific databases (CINAHL and IEEE), following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. We included studies on technologies used to monitor older adults’ ADL in the home but excluded studies focused on communication technologies (phone calls, text messages) or monitoring postures alone. The JBI checklist for case series was used for quality assessment. Extracted details included population characteristics, ADL assessment outcomes, types of monitoring technology, and technology readiness and usability.

Results

The search found 147 papers, with 16 papers included in the final analysis. The literature described 48 types of technologies. Of moderate quality studies, five studies used wearables at technology readiness level 4–6 to monitor basic ADL (walking, transfers and walking up stairs) and one used ambient sensors to detect urinary incontinence.

Conclusions

Monitoring technologies remain at development stages. More research is needed to strengthen technologies that monitor activities of daily living.

IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION

• Monitoring activities of daily living at home remains focused on using wearables to assess in-home functional mobility to support rehabilitation.

• Technologies remain a 4–6 readiness level and there is a lack of evidence to recommend in-home monitoring technologies.

Keywords:

• Activities of daily living
• aged
• independent living
• technology
• monitoring

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

Extractions are available in Appendix B. Quality Assessments are Available in Appendix C.

Additional information

Funding

This study was partially funded by The Mathematics of Information Technology and Complex Systems (Mitacs), grant IT24450.