How the Aware Mobility Index Works: A Revolutionary Approach to Mobility Monitoring
15 October 2024
Understanding the Aware Mobility Index (AMI)
At Aware Technologies, we’ve developed a groundbreaking way to monitor and understand mobility, especially for elderly individuals and people with disabilities. Unlike traditional motion sensors that simply detect presence or movement, the Aware Mobility Index (AMI) offers a sophisticated and nuanced view of mobility trends over time. This proprietary threshold allows us to track not just whether someone is moving, but how they are moving, providing early insights into potential risks and declines in mobility.
What is the Aware Mobility Index (AMI)?
The Aware Mobility Index (AMI) is a proprietary metric developed by Aware Technologies to monitor mobility levels over time. It’s designed to go beyond simple presence detection. While traditional motion sensors may only tell you that someone is present in a room, the AMI tracks patterns of movement, such as speed, frequency, and direction. This allows us to detect changes in mobility that might otherwise go unnoticed.
Unlike systems that only identify whether a person is sitting or standing, the AMI can identify subtle shifts in activity levels, giving caregivers and family members a clearer picture of the individual’s overall health and mobility. For example, it can distinguish between a person maintaining a normal activity pattern and someone whose movements are becoming slower or more limited, indicating they may be becoming more sedentary, which could signal potential health concerns.
How Does the Aware Mobility Index Work?
1. Continuous Monitoring
The AMI works by continuously monitoring movement patterns using advanced sensors in the Aware Guardian device. These sensors track a range of factors, including:
- Frequency of Movement: How often the person moves within a set time frame.
- Movement Speed: How quickly they move or change positions.
- Movement Range: The distance covered by their movements.
This data is then analysed to calculate the Aware Mobility Index.
2. Threshold-Based Detection
Rather than relying on a static threshold for movement, AMI dynamically adjusts to each individual’s normal activity patterns. This means that it can detect subtle trends in a person’s mobility, such as:
- Slowing down over time.
- Reduced frequency of movement.
- More frequent pauses or stops during movement.
When the system detects a significant change from the person’s baseline activity (e.g., if their mobility drops below a certain percentage for a prolonged period), it triggers an alert. This early warning system enables caregivers and family members to respond before a fall or serious decline in mobility occurs.
3. Trend Identification
One of the most powerful features of the AMI is its ability to identify mobility trends over time. By analysing patterns of movement over days, weeks, or even months, the system can spot early signs of mobility decline. For example, a person might not experience an immediate fall risk, but their movements might show that they are becoming more sedentary or moving more slowly.
With AMI, caregivers can track the directional change in a person’s movement and receive insights into:
- Long-Term Decline: A gradual decrease in mobility that could indicate a need for intervention.
- Sudden Shifts: Unexpected changes in mobility, such as an abrupt drop in movement, which might signal a potential injury or health issue.
4. Predictive Insights
The AMI doesn’t just report on current mobility; it provides predictive analytics based on historical data. By looking at trends over time, the system can predict when mobility might reach levels that indicate a higher risk of falls or health issues. These predictive insights allow caregivers to intervene proactively, rather than reacting after an event occurs.
Key Benefits of the Aware Mobility Index
1. Proactive Monitoring
The Aware Mobility Index is a proactive tool that enables caregivers to monitor and address mobility issues before they become serious problems. By detecting subtle changes, it allows for early intervention, whether it’s scheduling a doctor’s appointment or assisting with physical therapy exercises.
2. Personalised Data
AMI is personalised to each individual’s baseline mobility, ensuring that alerts are relevant and tailored. This eliminates the need for a “one-size-fits-all” approach and gives a more accurate reflection of a person’s health.
3. Peace of Mind for Caregivers
With AMI, caregivers and family members don’t need to rely on feeling or guesswork. They can trust the system to alert them when a potential issue arises, enabling them to act quickly, ensuring the safety and well-being of their loved ones.
4. Better Insights into Long-Term Health
Unlike traditional sensors, which may only highlight immediate risks, AMI gives long-term insights into mobility, helping caregivers and health professionals understand the person’s overall health trajectory.
Why the Aware Mobility Index Matters for Aged Care
For the elderly, maintaining mobility is crucial to both physical and mental well-being. Mobility loss can contribute to a range of issues, from falls to a decline in independence and overall quality of life. By identifying changes in mobility early on, AMI helps to preserve independence and ensure that individuals get the support they need before their health deteriorates further.
Conclusion
The Aware Mobility Index is a revolutionary way to monitor and understand mobility. Unlike traditional presence-detection systems, AMI offers deep insights into mobility patterns, helping caregivers to monitor trends and act proactively. By tracking and analysing the subtle changes in a person’s mobility, AMI empowers caregivers to intervene before problems arise, ensuring that the elderly and people with disabilities can live safer, more independent lives.
The Aware Mobility Index isn’t just about tracking presence — it’s about providing peace of mind through early detection, predictive insights, and personalised care. Whether you’re a caregiver, family member, or health professional, AMI is changing the way we approach aged care, one step at a time.