practical living
of what it looks like, it’s similar to what you
have in an iPad touchscreen. It picks up the
pressure from people moving or walking
on the surface.
Why did you decide to give this sensor
flooring a go?
AW: We’re always on the lookout for new
innovative technologies that can help
with our approach to care. In terms of the
existing technologies we have, the flooring
mats typically used to detect or prevent
falls pose a few issues in everyday care. The
existing research suggests difficulties from
things like people moving the sensor mats.
They can also be a tripping hazard and they
don’t cover the whole floor. The sensor
mat we just started to invest in does allow
us to have a real-time monitoring of the
entire surface of a room. That lets us have
a look at how things are moving and what’s
going on in the room without intruding on
the look or feel of the place.
Sophie, you said you’re working closely
with international universities. How are
these partners involved?
Watching their step
Plenty of consultation and
collaboration will go into making sure
workers and residents get the most
out of floor-sensor technology.
Aaron Wyllie and Sophie Mepham
interviewed by Dallas Bastian
A
n Australian aged-care provider
will be scoping out the benefits of
sensor flooring.
Benetas will install the technology,
which originated from Aalto University,
in Espoo, Finland, beneath the regular
flooring at the provider’s new St Paul’s
Terrace Aged Care Apartments, due to
open in Brisbane this year.
Project manager Aaron Wyllie, from the
Benetas research department, said the
technology works by sending a low-level
electric current through the floor that
interacts with anyone standing on it.
Dr Sophie Mepham, innovation, policy
and research manager at Benetas, said
the research would focus on the benefits
to residents – in relation to addressing
22 agedcareinsite.com.au
the frequency and impact of falls and
associated confidence – and how the
technology affects staff in their work.
The pair sat down with Aged Care Insite
to discuss the reasoning behind the centre’s
investment in the technology and how it is
likely to affect residents and carers.
ACI: How does the technology work?
AW: The flooring works with a technology
called mini-field imaging. It’s different from
existing sensor technologies, which tend
to rely on external objects or flooring mats.
It sits under flooring that’s already there,
so it can go under carpet or floorboard.
It works by sending a low-level electric
current through the floor that interacts
with anyone standing on the floor. In terms
SM: The technology originates from
Finland. We’ve been working closely with
the group of scientists who developed it.
We’re working with a parent company that
is responsible for the flooring. In addition,
we’ve been able to work not only with the
distributor for the flooring here in Australia,
but also with the people who designed it
and who distribute it internationally. We
thought we would get the best knowledge
and experience this way, to ensure the
project was thorough and robust. It’s a
real opportunity for us to make some
great contacts and expand a group of
researchers with whom we can work.
What extra information do you hope care
staff can garner through the sensors?
SM: There are a number of different
[types of] information that can go back
to care staff. For us, the most important
will be an immediate notification that a
resident has fallen. In terms of the safety
of the residents, that is the number one
priority and the key reason for having the
technology installed. There is lots of other
information we expect to bring in as we
understand better what the technology
can do. For instance, if there’s a resident
that has a tendency to wander, we can see
the footprints. [Also, the technology] will
send out an alert if … residents have been
in their bathroom for longer than expected.
We can set up critical time points with the
residents themselves. It just gives the staff