Introduction on a Support System for Awareness in an Aware-Environment Enhanced Group Home: AwareRium

Abstract

We have constructed "AwareRium'' that is an enhanced group home with ubiquitous technology to establish person-centered care. The group home is a facility to provide care for Alzheimer's and dementia patients. The group home is effective in curbing the progress of Alzheimer's dementia. A small number of elderly persons with no relations in need of care, support, or supervision, such as Alzheimer's and dementia patients, can live together in the group home. In this paper, we introduce the design concept of AwareRium and the sensing and projection devices installed therein. We present two support systems for position awareness using these devices in AwareRium: a system for identifying and noticing dangers and a support system for context awareness using sound cues.