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Experimentation of an Integrated System of Services and AAL Solutions for Alzheimer’s Disease Patients and Their Caregivers in Marche: The UP-TECH Project

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Ambient Assisted Living

Abstract

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is one of the most crucial challenges in public health today. In addition to the negative impact of AD on the patient, the effect of this disease on family caregivers also needs to be considered, as they are often deeply burdened psychologically and emotionally. Many projects have tried to exploit ambient assisted living (AAL) technologies to support AD patients and their families, but evidence is so far inconclusive. The UP-TECH project aims at investigating an integrated package of care services and AAL solutions to support family caregivers and to promote the security and the independence of the patient at home. The study is designed as a randomized controlled trial (RCT) and includes the recruitment of 438 patient-caregiver dyads, assigned to one of the two experimental groups or to the control group. In particular, one experimental group will receive a package of case management services and assistive devices installed at home, including activity sensors and alarms. The project will assess the impact of the tested AAL solutions using validated scales at a follow-up of 12 months. A cost-effectiveness analysis will also be realized in order to assess the likelihood of implementing such services on a wider scale.

On the behalf of the UP-TECH research team: The paper has been prepared on behalf of the UP-TECH research team: Social workers: Diletta Baldassarri, Luigina Bitti, Aurora Carosi, Maila Sabbatini, Elisabetta Paolasini, Tania Fiore, Cinzia Fronzi, Simona Giacchetta, Valeria Giacomini, Laura Giovagnoli, Giuli Lattanzi, Anna Maria Manca, Ida Marinelli, Valeria Pigini, Marina Pignotti, Maria Chiara Proietti, Antonia Quarticelli, Martina Rovedi, Valentina Valeri. Nurses: Andrea Antonioli, Mariella Barabucci, Mara Bassani, Paola Bollettini, M. Cristina Bruttapasta, Carla Buccolini, Rosa Carangella, Franca Carboni, Daniela Ceccolini, Patrizia D’Incecco, Mariangela Di Felice, Lara Dini, Giordano Gioia, Giuseppe Di Prima, Giancarlo Giusepponi, Luciano Farinelli, Cesarina Lanciotti, Alessia Loffreda, Oriana Luciani, Laura Mariani, Francesco Mastrorilli, Roberto Moroni, Izabela Piatowska, Roberta Rucoli, Giampaola Scoccia, Tiziana Tonelli. Coordinators of Social Districts and Management of Local Services: Daniela Alessandrini, Antonio De Santis, Brunetta Formica, Giuliano Tacchi, Silvia Tortorelli. Management of medical doctors: Rosa Anna Bratti, Giuseppe Bonafede, Severino Lorenzetti, Cristina Paci, Giovanna Picciotti, Donella Pezzola, Vincenzo Rea, Vincenzo Sciale. Marche Region: Gemma Marchegiani, Giovanni Santarelli. Scientific and Technical Committee: Giorgio Caraffa, Filippo Cavallo, Lucia Di Furia, Antonio Lacetera, Claudio M. Maffei, Lamberto Manzoli, Demetrio Postacchini. INRCA Research Team: Roberta Bevilacqua, Anna Rita Bonfigli, Silvia Bustacchini, Marina Capasso, Laura Cassetta, Patrizia Civerchia, Gianluca Furneri, Paolo Marinelli, Gabriella Melchiorre, Maria Elena Moraca, Andrea Principi, Cristina Rocchetti, Daniela Vincitorio

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Socio-Economic Research on Ageing, Italian National Institute of Health and Science on Ageing (INRCA), Via Santa Margherita 5, 60124, Ancona, Italy

    F. Barbabella

  2. Scientific Direction, Italian National Institute of Health and Science on Ageing (INRCA), Via Santa Margherita 5, 60124, Ancona, Italy

    C. Chiatti, F. Masera, F. Bonfranceschi, J.M. Rimland, K. Bartulewicz & F. Lattanzio

  3. Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Bioengineering and Home Automation, Italian National Institute of Health and Science on Ageing (INRCA), Via Santa Margherita 5, 60124, Ancona, Italy

    L. Rossi

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  1. F. Barbabella
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  2. C. Chiatti
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  3. F. Masera
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  4. F. Bonfranceschi
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  6. K. Bartulewicz
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  7. L. Rossi
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  8. F. Lattanzio
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Correspondence to F. Barbabella .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy

    Sauro Longhi

  2. Inst for Microelectronics & Microsystems IMM-CNR, Lecce, Lecce, Italy

    Pietro Siciliano

  3. Industrial Engineering, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy

    Michele Germani

  4. Information Engineering, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy

    Andrea Monteriù

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Barbabella, F. et al. (2014). Experimentation of an Integrated System of Services and AAL Solutions for Alzheimer’s Disease Patients and Their Caregivers in Marche: The UP-TECH Project. In: Longhi, S., Siciliano, P., Germani, M., Monteriù, A. (eds) Ambient Assisted Living. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-01119-6_16

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-01119-6_16

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

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