The increasing aging of the European population not only poses ever greater challenges for pension funds, but also places a strain on the healthcare system. People are getting older and living longer at home. However, very few can manage without support. CleverGuard offers invisible protection for seniors, enabling them to enjoy a longer, independent life in their own homes.
Living in familiar surroundings for as long as possible – this is the wish of many pensioners. However, as they get older, this desire becomes increasingly difficult to fulfill. To make it possible nonetheless, there are now various technologies that allow pensioners to stay at home, but are effectively monitored. It is understandable that this is not in the interests of these individuals. No one wants to be monitored at every turn, not even, or especially not, in old age. What is needed is a solution that gives retirees complete freedom while offering reliable protection without invading their privacy. This is exactly what CleverGuard offers. The idea behind CleverGuard is simple: protection without restrictions or inconvenience. To achieve this, the solution draws on a previously untapped resource: energy data and electricity profiles. Whether making tea, listening to the radio, or simply turning on the lights—all these actions affect energy consumption. Switching devices on and off causes fluctuations in the electricity profile of an apartment or house. Smart energy meters such as those from CLEMAP are able to register these fluctuations. In combination with the CLEMAP algorithms, it is also possible to determine which devices are currently being switched on or off. In addition, a behavior profile is recorded, which serves as a basis for comparisons. If, for example, energy consumption spikes every morning at 8:00 a.m. because the lights are turned on and tea is being made, and then suddenly does not on a particular day, this indicates a possible incident. All relevant persons, such as the senior citizen, relatives, and nursing staff, are notified that an incident may have occurred, enabling them to act quickly.
From a technological perspective, CleverGuard consists of an energy meter installed in the distribution box, which uses NILM technology (NILM = Non-Intrusive Load Monitoring) to perform Load disaggregation devices connected to the power grid. A connected notification module sends alerts to predefined individuals in the event of significant deviations from the daily consumption profile. This means that notifications are automatically sent if there is a risk of an incident in the home of the person requiring care.
The big advantage of CleverGuard lies in its perception: invisible protection that respects privacy while still providing rapid assistance whenever necessary. CleverGuard enables seniors to live longer in familiar surroundings without having to compromise on their protection. Relatives can rely on continuous monitoring and know that their family members are safe at all times. Care staff also benefit from the solution, as it eliminates the need for routine checks on people in need of care. In addition, the data can be used to detect and diagnose illnesses earlier. The other major advantage of this project is its technological simplicity. Once the sensor is installed, it requires no maintenance for decades. This has a positive effect on the price and on acceptance among older people.
The research project is led by CLEMAP, has a budget of €2.5 million, and is approximately half-funded by the EU's Ambient Assisted Living Program. CleverGuard will initially be implemented in several European countries with a total of nine partners (Switzerland, Belgium, Italy, Hungary) before targeting the entire European market. The pilot phase of the project will start in Lucerne in the middle of this year in collaboration with the iHomeLab at Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts and Vicino Lucerne. Further information on the research project can be found at: https://www.cleverguard.care/.
Note: CLEMAP already offers the service described in this article to its customers. Learn more about this invisible guardian angel here.