Nursing care recipient watching system

Abstract

To provide a nursing care recipient watching system for issuing an alarm by detecting that a nursing care recipient leaves a living space, that falling or the like occurs, and that the nursing care recipient calls a person in charge of nursing care.SOLUTION: A transmission device 1 attached to a care-receiver transmits a beacon signal, acquires acoustic information, and transmits the acoustic information to a communication terminal 2, the communication terminal 2 installed in a living space of the care-receiver transmits a call signal when a call operation unit is operated, and transmits a reception status of the beacon signal and the acoustic information, and a management computer 3 receives the call signal and transmits a call sign display signal, and transmits an absence alarm display signal when the reception status of the beacon signal by the communication terminal 2 is not within a set range. When the acoustic information exceeds a prescribed sound volume, an accident alarm display signal is sent and a display device 4 displays a call sign when receiving the call sign display signal, displays an absence alarm when receiving the absence alarm display signal and displays an accident alarm when receiving the accident alarm display signal.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a monitoring system for care recipients that automatically detects the status of care recipients such as elderly people, dementia patients, and young children. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, society has been aging at a rapid pace, and with a shortage of caregivers due to the declining birthrate, there is a strong demand for automating the monitoring of people in need of care. In particular, wandering by dementia patients and falls by elderly people can lead to serious consequences, and monitoring to prevent this places an excessive burden on caregivers.

[0003] A conventional technique for automatically watching over a person requiring care is disclosed in Patent Document 1. This conventional technology comprises a transmitter that can be worn by a moving person and emits radio waves conforming to the Bluetooth (registered trademark) standard, multiple beacon communication devices that can receive the transmitter's radio waves, and a main control computer that can communicate with the beacon communication devices.The transmitters each transmit a different ID, and when the main control computer receives an ID transmission from a beacon communication device, it assigns points to that ID and transfers the accumulated points to other point systems within the person's living area, creating an incentive to participate in the system and making it possible to predict the movement patterns of moving people.The location information of the beacon communication devices can also be output on a display and used to search for moving people.

[0004] Furthermore, a passive patient monitoring device such as that described in Patent Document 2 has also been proposed. The device includes at least two piezoelectric sensors mounted on a surface such as a bed, chair, etc., to sense at least one mechanical signal from the patient, and a processor coupled to the piezoelectric sensors to convert the mechanical signal into a digital signal and compare the digital signal corresponding to the piezoelectric sensors to provide data about the patient. If the patient leaves the surface or falls and fails to meet a predetermined threshold range, or if there are abnormalities in respiratory rate, heart rate, blood pressure, etc., and there is a negative physiological trend, an alarm is activated. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2016-110618 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-512112 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The technology described in Patent Document 1 can detect when a care recipient approaches the location where a beacon communication device is installed, but it requires a family member or caregiver to request a search for the care recipient, and cannot automatically warn of the absence of the care recipient. Furthermore, it does not have a function to notify the care recipient of a call or a function to notify the care recipient of an unexpected incident such as a fall.

[0007] The device described in Patent Document 2 above can detect whether a person requiring care is touching a hospital bed or chair, but it cannot detect the condition of the person requiring care while they are living their normal life, and it cannot be used to call a caregiver.

[0008] The problem that the present invention aims to solve is to provide a monitoring system for a person requiring care that detects when the person requiring care has left their living space, when a serious incident such as a fall has occurred, or when the person requiring care is calling a caregiver, and then issues an alarm. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The invention according to claim 1 of the present application comprises a transmitter that transmits a beacon signal and can be worn by a person requiring care, a communication terminal that can be installed in the living space of the person requiring care and receives the beacon signal from the transmitter, a management computer that can communicate with the communication terminal, and a display device connected to the management computer, wherein the transmitter acquires acoustic information and transmits the acquired acoustic information to the communication terminal, and the communication terminal has a call operation unit that, when operated, transmits a call signal to the management computer and transmits to the management computer a reception status of the beacon signal transmitted by the transmitter, and a display device that displays the sound that the transmitter has launched. and when the communication terminal receives the beacon signal, the management computer transmits the beacon signal to the display device, and when the reception status of the beacon signal by the communication terminal is not within a set range, the management computer transmits an absence alarm display signal to the display device, and when the received acoustic information exceeds a predetermined volume, the display device displays a call sign when it receives the call sign display signal, displays an absence alarm when it receives the absence alarm display signal, and displays an accident alarm when it receives the accident alarm display signal.

[0010] The invention of claim 2 of the present application is the system for monitoring a person in need of care described in claim 1, characterized in that the display device displays the call sign, the absence alarm, and the accident alarm in different colors.

[0011] The invention of claim 3 of the present application is a system for monitoring a person in need of care as described in claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the display device emits an alarm sound and displays the call sign, the absence alarm, and the accident alarm.

[0012] The invention of claim 4 of the present application is a system for monitoring a person in need of care as described in claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the transmitting device acquires vital information of the person in need of care wearing the transmitting device, transmits the acquired vital information to the management computer via the communication terminal, and the management computer transmits the received vital information to the display device for display.

[0013] The invention of claim 5 of the present application is the system for monitoring a person in need of care described in claim 4, characterized in that the management computer compares the received vital information with an appropriate vital range, and when the vital information is outside the appropriate vital range, sends a vital danger alarm display signal to the display device, and the display device displays a vital danger alarm when it receives the vital danger alarm display signal.

[0014] The invention of claim 6 of the present application is a system for monitoring people requiring care as described in claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of transmitting devices and a plurality of communication terminals corresponding to each of these transmitting devices, wherein the plurality of transmitting devices transmit a different ID for each transmitting device, the communication terminal transmits the received ID along with the call signal, the reception status of the beacon signal, and the acoustic information to the management computer, and the management computer transmits the received ID, the call sign display signal, the absence alarm display signal, and the accident alarm display signal to the display device, thereby displaying the call sign, the absence alarm, and the accident alarm for each person requiring care. [Effects of the Invention]

[0015] According to the present invention, the condition of a care recipient can be automatically monitored, and the same care recipient system can be used to prevent accidents caused by the care recipient wandering, or serious incidents caused by the care recipient falling out of bed or tripping, and can also be used to allow the care recipient to call a caregiver. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of a care-requiring person monitoring system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 is a block diagram of a transmitting device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a communication terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] 1 is a front view of a communication terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a management computer according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] 1 is a block diagram of a display device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] 1 is a front view of a display device according to an embodiment of the present invention; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a system for monitoring a person in need of care according to an embodiment, Figure 2 is a block diagram of a transmitting device according to an embodiment, Figure 3 is a block diagram of a communication terminal according to an embodiment, Figure 4 is a front view of the communication terminal according to an embodiment, Figure 5 is a block diagram of a management computer according to an embodiment, Figure 6 is a block diagram of a display device according to an embodiment, and Figure 7 is a front view of the display device according to an embodiment.

[0018] In this embodiment, the care-requiring person monitoring system monitors multiple elderly care-requiring people, and as shown in Figure 1, it includes multiple transmitting devices 1, multiple communication terminals 2 each corresponding to a transmitting device 1, a management computer 3 that manages the multiple care-requiring people, and a display device 4 connected to the management computer 3.

[0019] Each transmitting device 1 is assigned a different ID to identify that transmitting device 1, and is formed in the shape of a wristband with belts attached to both sides of the main body so that it can be worn by wrapping it around the wrist of the person requiring care. As shown in Figure 2, the transmitting device 1 includes an acoustic information acquisition unit 10 that acquires ambient sounds, a measurement unit 11 that acquires vital information such as the heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature of the person in need of care who is wearing the transmitting device 1, and a signal generation unit 12 that generates a beacon signal at predetermined intervals. The acoustic information acquired by the acoustic information acquisition unit 10, the vital information of the person in need of care acquired by the measurement unit 11, and the beacon signal generated by the signal generation unit 12 are transmitted to the communication terminal 2 via the transmission unit 13 together with the ID.

[0020] The communication terminal 2 is a mobile terminal such as a smartphone, and can be installed in the living space of the care-requiring person (at home or in a room at a nursing home). As shown in FIG. 3, the communication terminal 2 includes a transmitting unit 20, a receiving unit 21 that receives acoustic information, vital information, beacon signals, and ID transmitted from the transmitting device 1, a calculation / control unit 22, and a display screen 23. The acoustic information and vital information received by the receiving unit 21 are transmitted from the transmitting unit 20 to the management computer 3 together with the corresponding ID.

[0021] When the receiver 21 of the communication terminal 2 receives a beacon signal, the transmitter 20 transmits a beacon reception signal to the management computer 3 together with the corresponding ID. Furthermore, the calculation / control unit 22 of the communication terminal 2 selects the downloaded program, thereby displaying a call operation unit 24 on its display screen 23 (FIG. 4). Note that the display screen 23 of the communication terminal 2 can also display vital signs of the care-requiring person simultaneously with the call operation unit 24. When the call operation unit 24 is pressed, the calculation and control unit 22 generates a call signal, and the generated call signal is transmitted to the management computer 3 via the transmission unit 20 together with the corresponding ID.

[0022] The management computer 3 is installed in an office or the like of the nursing care facility, and is capable of communicating with a plurality of communication terminals 2. As shown in FIG. 5, the management computer 3 includes a receiving unit 30 , a storage unit 31 , an arithmetic and control unit 32 , and a transmitting unit 33 .

[0023] The receiving unit 30 of the management computer 3 receives the ID, acoustic information, vital information, beacon reception signal, and call signal transmitted by the transmitting unit 20 of the communication terminal 2. The storage unit 31 stores the allowable volume in the living space of the care-requiring person, the appropriate range of the person's vital signs, and the allowable time for interruption of the beacon signal.

[0024] The calculation / control unit 32 compares the acoustic information received by the receiving unit 30 with the allowable volume stored in the memory unit 31, and generates an accident alarm display signal when the volume of the acoustic information exceeds the allowable volume. In addition, the calculation / control unit 32 compares the vital information received by the receiving unit 30 with the appropriate vital range stored in the memory unit 31, and generates a vital danger alarm display signal when the vital information is outside the appropriate vital range.

[0025] Furthermore, the calculation / control unit 32 compares the elapsed time from when the receiving unit 30 received the beacon receiving signal with the allowable time for interruption of the beacon signal stored in the memory unit 31, and if the receiving unit 30 does not receive the next beacon receiving signal even after the allowable time for interruption of the beacon signal has elapsed, generates an absence alarm display signal. Furthermore, when the receiving unit 30 receives a call signal, the calculation and control unit 32 generates a call sign display signal.

[0026] The transmitter 33 transmits the vital sign information, the accident alarm display signal, the vital sign danger alarm display signal, the absence alarm display signal, and the call sign display signal to the display device 4 together with the corresponding ID.

[0027] 6, the display device 4 includes a receiving unit 40, a display screen 41, and a speaker 42. The display device 4 may be incorporated into the management computer 3, or may be separate from the management computer 3 and have a large display screen 41.

[0028] The receiver 40 of the display device 4 receives the vital information, accident alarm display signal, vital danger alarm display signal, absence alarm display signal, call sign display signal, and ID transmitted by the transmitter 33 of the management computer 3.

[0029] When the management computer 3 and the display device 4 are installed in an office of a facility for the elderly or a hospital, it is necessary to manage as many as 30 to 40 people requiring care. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7, a vital sign display section 412 is provided on one side of the display screen 41, and the names and vital sign information of 10 to 12 care-requiring persons are displayed on this vital sign display section 412 in correspondence with their IDs. The lower part of the display screen 41 is divided into blocks 10 to 12 411, and in these blocks 411, images from a camera of a communication terminal 2 installed in the living space of the care-requiring person corresponding to the display on the vital sign display section 412 are displayed. By simultaneously moving the names and vital information of the care recipients displayed on the vital display unit 412 and the image displayed on the block 411 every few seconds, it is possible to monitor the condition of 30 to 40 care recipients. When the number of care-requiring persons to be monitored is small, the images from the cameras of all communication terminals 2 are displayed without moving.

[0030] When the receiving unit 40 receives the absence alarm display signal and the ID, it issues an alarm sound from the speaker 42 and displays an absence alarm in the block 411 of the care-requiring person corresponding to the ID. The absence warning is displayed by changing the color of the block 411 of the relevant care-requiring person to, for example, pink. When the caregiver confirms the absence alarm, he / she checks whether the care recipient is absent and calls out to the care recipient, and if necessary, searches for the care recipient together with other caregivers or passersby. If a photograph of the care-requiring person is displayed on the display screen 41 together with the vital information, the face of the care-requiring person to be searched for can be confirmed.

[0031] When the receiving unit 40 receives the accident alarm signal and the ID, it issues an alarm sound from the speaker 42 and displays an accident alarm in the block 411 of the care-requiring person corresponding to the ID. The accident alarm is displayed by changing the color of the block 411 of the relevant care-requiring person to a color different from that of the absence alarm, for example, yellow. The accident alarm display indicates that a loud noise such as a fall or tumble from the bed or a scream has been heard near the person requiring care, so the caregiver must check the condition of the person requiring care.

[0032] When the receiving unit 40 receives the call sign display signal and the ID, it issues an alarm sound from the speaker 42 and displays a call sign in the block 411 of the care-requiring person corresponding to the ID. The call sign is displayed by changing the color of the block 411 of the relevant care-requiring person to a color different from the absence alarm and accident alarm, for example, vermilion. The call sign is displayed when the care recipient operates the call operation unit 24 of the communication terminal 2, and the caregiver calls out to the called care recipient and checks the situation.

[0033] When the receiving unit 40 receives the vital danger alarm display signal and the ID, it issues an alarm sound from the speaker 42 and displays a vital danger alarm in the block 411 of the care-requiring person corresponding to the ID. The vital danger alarm is displayed by changing the color of the block 411 of the relevant care recipient to a color different from the absence alarm, accident alarm, or call sign, or by flashing a light to indicate an emergency. The display of a vital danger alarm means that there is concern about the health condition of the care recipient, so the caregiver needs to immediately check the condition of the care recipient.

[0034] When any of an absence alarm, an accident alarm, a call sign, and a vital danger alarm is displayed, by clicking on the image of the camera of the communication terminal 2 displayed at the bottom of the display screen 41, the image can be enlarged and displayed at the top of the display screen 41. In addition, if an absence alarm display signal, accident alarm signal, sign display signal, or vital danger alarm display signal is transmitted in response to the ID of a person requiring care who is not displayed on the display screen 41, the name, vital information, and image of that person requiring care will be displayed at the top of the display screen 41 along with the absence alarm, accident alarm, call sign, and vital danger alarm, even if it is not the correct timing to display them.

[0035] This monitoring system for a care recipient can be used whether the care recipient is at a care facility for the elderly or at home, by having the care recipient move around while wearing the transmitter 1 and moving the communication terminal 2 along with the care recipient.

[0036] The same monitoring system for care recipients can also be used to prevent accidents caused by care recipients wandering off, as well as serious incidents caused by falling out of bed or illness, and to respond to calls from care recipients.

[0037] The call sign, absence alarm, accident alarm, and vital sign danger alarm are displayed in different colors and styles, so that the type of alarm can be understood at a glance on the display device.

[0038] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and may also include the following, for example.

[0039] In an embodiment of the present application, when a communication mobile phone does not receive a beacon signal within a certain period of time, the management computer transmits an absence alarm display signal. However, the absence alarm display signal may also be transmitted when the distance between the transmitting device that transmits the beacon signal and the communication terminal that receives the beacon signal becomes greater than a predetermined value.

[0040] In the embodiment of the present application, the transmitter is formed in a wristband shape, but it may also be formed in other shapes that can be attached to the care recipient, such as a key chain or pendant. In addition, the transmitting device may not be in a form that is worn on the body, but may be configured to transmit to a communication terminal information that is manually entered, such as vital signs of the person requiring care measured by other measuring equipment, their sleeping habits, appetite, medical condition, etc.

[0041] In the embodiment of the present application, a plurality of transmitting devices and a plurality of communication terminals are provided, but when one care-requiring person is watched over by one manager, it is sufficient to provide only one transmitting device and one communication terminal. [Explanation of symbols]

[0042] 1. Transmitting device 10 Acoustic information acquisition section 11 Measurement section 12 Signal generation unit 13. Communications Department 2. Communication terminals 20 Transmitter 21 Receiving unit 22 Calculation and control section 23 Display screen 24 Call operation section 3 Management Computer 30 Receiving unit 31 Storage section 32 Calculation and control section 33 Transmitter 4 Display device 40 Receiving unit 41 Display screen 411 Block 412 Vital Signs Display 42 Speaker

Claims

1. The system comprises a transmitter that transmits a beacon signal and is wearable by a person requiring care, a communication terminal that can be installed in a living space of the person requiring care and receives the beacon signal from the transmitter, a management computer that can communicate with the communication terminal, and a display device connected to the management computer; the transmitting device acquires acoustic information and transmits the acquired acoustic information to the communication terminal; the communication terminal has a call operation unit, and when the call operation unit is operated, transmits a call signal to the management computer, transmits to the management computer a reception status of the beacon signal transmitted by the transmitting device, receives acoustic information transmitted by the transmitting device and transmits the acoustic information to the management computer; the management computer, when receiving the call signal, transmits a call sign display signal to the display device; when the reception status of the beacon signal by the communication terminal is not within a set range, transmits an absence alarm display signal to the display device; and when the received acoustic information exceeds a predetermined volume, transmits an accident alarm display signal to the display device; The display device displays a call sign when receiving the call sign display signal, displays an absence alarm when receiving the absence alarm display signal, and displays an accident alarm when receiving the accident alarm display signal. A monitoring system for people requiring care.

2. The display device displays the call sign, the absence alarm, and the accident alarm in different colors. The system for monitoring a person requiring care according to claim 1 .

3. The display device emits an alarm sound and displays the call sign, the absence alarm, and the accident alarm.

3. The system for monitoring a person requiring care according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The transmitting device acquires vital information of the care-requiring person wearing the transmitting device, and transmits the acquired vital information to the management computer via the communication terminal, and the management computer transmits the received vital information to the display device to display it.

3. The system for monitoring a person requiring care according to claim 1 or 2.

5. The management computer compares the received vital information with an appropriate vital range, and if the vital information is outside the appropriate vital range, transmits a vital danger alarm display signal to the display device, and the display device displays a vital danger alarm upon receiving the vital danger alarm display signal. The system for monitoring a person requiring care according to claim 4.

6. The system includes a plurality of transmitting devices and a plurality of communication terminals respectively corresponding to the transmitting devices, wherein the plurality of transmitting devices transmit a different ID for each transmitting device, and the communication terminal transmits the received ID together with the call signal, the reception status of the beacon signal, and the acoustic information to the management computer, and the management computer transmits the received ID, the call sign display signal, the absence alarm display signal, and the accident alarm display signal to the display device, thereby displaying the call sign, the absence alarm, and the accident alarm for each person requiring care.

3. The system for monitoring a person requiring care according to claim 1 or 2.

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