Wheelchair Use in Care Homes: What's Really Going On?

In care homes, people with Alzheimer's or similar conditions often use wheelchairs. This is because they have trouble moving around. But sitting too much can cause problems. They might fall or get sores from sitting too long. To help, care teams need good info on how wheelchairs are used. A small study tried to find out more. They put sensors under wheelchair cushions. These sensors checked how long people sat and when they moved. The study looked at 18 wheelchairs over a week. They found four main patterns. Some people sat all day without moving. Others moved once or twice. A few had no clear pattern.On average, people sat for about 8. 7 hours a day. They moved around 2. 9 times a day. This is less than people who use wheelchairs outside of care homes. The study shows that unobtrusive tech can help. It can give care teams the data they need. This way, they can prevent falls and sores. With more elderly people needing care and not enough staff, this info is valuable. But, is this the best way to help? Maybe more staff or better wheelchairs would work too. The study gives a start. But it's just one piece of the puzzle.