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Abstract
The purpose of this project was to create a safety monitoring device for dementia and elderly patients that can track a person’s location and send alerts if they wander, fall, or have irregularities in activity levels. For people who need constant monitoring, an effective tracker that notifies a caretaker when falling, immobility, or leaving are detected is a great alternative solution to in-patient care homes. Knowing when a fall occurs even though a patient can’t remember or knowing immediately when someone wonders off property could greatly reduce the risk of permanent injury or death. This was accomplished with a multisensory approach utilizing a wearable device, Bluetooth receivers, and a central personal computer for processing and sending alerts. The wearable sensors include a photoplethysmography (PPG) heart rate monitor, a 6-axis inertial measurement unit, and a Bluetooth emitter.