Advanced Sensors-Based Infrastructure for Active Ageing and Well-Being: The 4Frailty Project

The population of industrialized countries is aging rapidly, as demonstrated by relevant demographic studies. Assistive Technology can improve the safety, health and quality of life of elderly and frail people at their homes, encouraging de-hospitalization and defining new models of care. To such aim, in the last years novel approaches have been developed through the use of sensors deployed in indoor environments or wearable solutions. In this context, the 4Frailty project (Smart Sensors, Infrastructures & Management Models for Active and Safe Ageing) represents the result of a huge effort accomplished by a wide partnership, including research centers, companies and third sector operators, aimed at the development of a framework of Assistive Technologies to support frail people living in indoor environments. This work describes main parts of the 4Frailty infrastructure and related novelties. Moreover, a case study concerning the development of a sensing-based solution to detect and predict hazardous events, such as falls and postural instability in the end-users, is discussed.