Nursing care support device, nursing care support method, and program

Abstract

To enable a caregiver to process excrement of a care recipient at an appropriate timing.SOLUTION: A nursing care support device 3 is provided with: an excretion specifying unit 352 that specifies an excretion time point, which is a time point of excretion by a nursing care recipient, based on information from a sensor 1 provided in the vicinity of the nursing care recipient; and an information output unit 354 that creates recommendation information indicating when the caregiver is recommended to perform one or more care operations including processing of the care recipient's excrement based on a recipient's past excretion time point, and outputs the created recommendation information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a care support device, a care support method, a program, and a care support system for supporting a caregiver who cares for a care recipient. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known an excretion detection system that detects that a care recipient, such as an elderly person who requires assistance with excretion, has excreted (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2018-143362 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] When a care recipient excretes, it is desirable for the care recipient to dispose of the excrement as quickly as possible. However, since caregivers often have many tasks to perform, they are not always able to dispose of the excrement promptly.

[0005] Therefore, the present invention has been made in consideration of these points, and aims to provide a care support device, a care support method, a program, and a care support system that assist caregivers in disposing of the excrement of the person being cared for at the appropriate time. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A first aspect of the care support device of the present invention has an excretion identification unit that identifies an excretion time when the care recipient excretes based on information from a sensor installed near the care recipient, and an information output unit that creates recommendation information indicating a time when it is recommended that the caregiver of the care recipient perform one or more care tasks, including disposing of the care recipient's excrement, based on the past excretion times of the care recipient, and outputs the created recommendation information.

[0007] The information output unit may output, as the recommendation information, an elapsed time from the previous excretion time.

[0008] The information output unit may identify a time period during which the care recipient is likely to next excrete, based on a plurality of past excretion times, and output the recommendation information indicating the identified time period.

[0009] The excretion specifying unit may further specify a state of the excretion at the time of the excretion, and the information output unit may create the recommendation information further based on the state specified by the excretion specifying unit.

[0010] The information output unit may output the recommendation information indicating a desired guideline time from the time of excretion until disposal of the excrement.

[0011] The information output unit may output the recommendation information indicating a reason for hastening disposal of the excrement, when the estimated response time is equal to or less than a threshold value.

[0012] The device may further include a disposal time identification unit that identifies the disposal time, which is the time when the caregiver disposed of the excrement, and the information output unit may determine the estimated response time based on the elapsed time from a past excretion time to the disposal time immediately following the excretion time.

[0013] The information output unit may determine the estimated response time based on the time point at which one or more of the caregivers who satisfy a predetermined condition among the plurality of caregivers disposed of the excrement.

[0014] The care support device further has an information acquisition unit that acquires odor change information indicating a change in odor detected by an odor sensor installed on the bed of the care recipient or in the vicinity of the bed, and position information indicating the position of the care recipient detected by a position sensor installed on the bed or in the vicinity of the bed, and the processing time determination unit may determine as the processing time a time at which the odor is determined to have become weaker based on the odor change information while the position information indicates that the care recipient is on the bed.

[0015] The information output unit may output the recommendation information indicating a tendency regarding excretion of the care receiver based on a plurality of past excretion time points.

[0016] The care receiver may further include an information acquisition unit that acquires medication information indicating the content and time of medication for the care recipient, and the information output unit may generate the recommendation information further based on the medication information.

[0017] The excretion identification unit may identify multiple excretion times associated with multiple care recipients, and the information output unit may create the recommendation information indicating the time when it is recommended that the caregiver perform the care work for each of the multiple care recipients based on the multiple excretion times of the multiple care recipients.

[0018] The information output unit may output the recommendation information indicating a time when it is recommended that the caregivers perform the care work for each of the care recipients, in association with the caregivers.

[0019] The information output unit may output the recommendation information indicating a time when it is recommended to perform, as the care work, disposal of the excrement and providing a meal to the care recipient.

[0020] The information output unit may allocate the time when it is recommended to perform the care work within a time period during which the caregiver is permitted to perform the care work in a facility to which the caregiver belongs.

[0021] The information output unit may create the recommendation information so as to satisfy a staffing standard set for the care facility to which the caregiver belongs.

[0022] A care support method of a second aspect of the present invention includes the steps of: identifying an excretion time, which is the time when the care recipient excretes, based on information from a sensor installed near the care recipient, executed by a computer; creating recommendation information indicating a time when it is recommended that the caregiver of the care recipient perform one or more care tasks, including disposing of the care recipient's excrement, based on the past excretion times of the care recipient; and outputting the created recommendation information.

[0023] A third aspect of the program of the present invention causes a computer to function as an excretion identification unit that identifies the excretion time when the care recipient excretes based on information from a sensor installed near the care recipient, and an information output unit that creates recommendation information indicating a time when it is recommended that the caregiver of the care recipient perform one or more care tasks, including disposing of the care recipient's excrement, based on the care recipient's past excretion times, and outputs the created recommendation information.

[0024] A fourth aspect of the present invention provides a care support system comprising an information terminal capable of displaying information, and a care support device which outputs recommendation information to the information terminal, the care support device having an excretion identification unit which identifies the excretion time when the care recipient excretes based on information from a sensor provided near the care recipient, and an information output unit which creates recommendation information indicating a time when it is recommended that the caregiver of the care recipient perform one or more care tasks including disposal of the care recipient's excrement based on the past excretion times of the care recipient, and outputs the created recommendation information, and the information terminal has a display unit which displays the recommendation information. Effect of the Invention

[0025] According to the present invention, an effect is achieved in that a caregiver can dispose of excrement of a care recipient at an appropriate time. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0026] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an overview of a care support system. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a sensor. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of an information terminal. [Figure 4] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a screen for inputting details of disposal of excrement of a care recipient, which is one of the care tasks. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a care support device. [Figure 6] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a care recipient database. [Figure 7] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a screen including recommendation information output by an information output unit. [Figure 8] 13 is a diagram showing another example of a screen including recommendation information output by the information output unit. FIG. [Figure 9] This is an example of a screen that allows a caregiver to easily grasp the excretion status of multiple care recipients. [Figure 10] 13 is a diagram showing an example of a daily activity plan for a care recipient and a caregiver output by an information output unit. FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the history of excretion times of a plurality of care recipients. [Figure 12] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing time periods when each care recipient is highly likely to excrete. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing available time periods for each care recipient. [Figure 14] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing available time slots for each care recipient assigned to a plurality of caregivers. [Figure 15] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the configuration of a care support system according to a first modified example. [Figure 16] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a care support device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0027] [Overview of the nursing care support system S1] FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an overview of the care support system S1. The care support system S1 is a system for supporting the care work of a caregiver in a facility where it is necessary to care for a care recipient, such as a care facility or a hospital (hereinafter referred to as "care facility, etc."). A care recipient is a person who is unable to dispose of excrement by himself / herself and wears a diaper, such as an elderly person who requires care. A caregiver is a person who performs care work such as disposing of the excrement of the care recipient (i.e., changing the diaper), providing meals to the care recipient, managing the medication of the care recipient, and assisting the care recipient in bathing.

[0028] In the following embodiment, the care support system S1 is mainly intended to provide care support to elderly and other care recipients, but the system can also be applied to the disposal of excrement from sick people and infants (i.e., the "care recipient" in the present invention can include not only so-called elderly care recipients, but also sick people and infants, etc.).

[0029] The care support system S1 includes a sensor 1, an information terminal 2, and a care support device 3. The sensor 1, the information terminal 2, and the care support device 3 are connected to a network N. The network N is a wireless communication network provided in, for example, a care facility. The sensor 1 and the information terminal 2 can transmit and receive various information between the care support device 3 and the network N. Although only one sensor 1 and one information terminal 2 are shown in FIG. 1, the care support system S1 may include a plurality of sensors 1 and a plurality of information terminals 2.

[0030] The sensor 1 is a sensor that generates an odor signal including information according to the type and intensity of the detected odor. The sensor 1 is provided near the care recipient, for example, on the care recipient's bed or on the care recipient's clothing. The sensor 1 generates odor detection information indicating the presence of a specific odor component around the care recipient, and transmits the odor detection information to the care support device 3. The sensor 1 may transmit the odor detection information when it detects an odor component at or above a specific level, or may transmit the odor detection information on the condition that the odor has changed by a certain level or more.

[0031] The information terminal 2 is an information terminal used by a caregiver, and is, for example, a tablet, a smartphone, or a personal computer. The information terminal 2 receives input of the contents of the care work performed by the caregiver and displays information received from the care support device 3.

[0032] The care support device 3 is, for example, a computer, which creates various types of information useful for supporting the caregiver in performing the care work based on the odor signal transmitted from the sensor 1, and outputs the created information. The information created by the care support device 3 is, for example, recommendation information for recommending to the caregiver the content of the care work to be performed or the time at which the care work should be performed. The recommendation information is not limited to information that clearly indicates a recommendation to the caregiver, and includes any information useful for the caregiver to perform the care work.

[0033] The care support device 3 may create information other than information recommended to a caregiver. For example, the care support device 3 identifies a tendency of excretion timing of a care recipient based on odor signals received from a plurality of sensors 1 provided on a bed used by the plurality of sensors 1, and creates information on work sharing, personnel planning, etc. in a care facility, etc. based on the identified tendency.

[0034] The care support device 3 outputs the created information in various ways. For example, the care support device 3 outputs the created information by displaying the information on a display, transmitting the information to an external device such as an information terminal used by a caregiver, or printing the information on a printer. The configurations and operations of the sensor 1, the information terminal 2, and the care support device 3 will be described in detail below.

[0035] [Sensor 1 configuration] 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the sensor 1. The sensor 1 has a detection unit 11, a control unit 12, and a communication unit 13.

[0036] The detection unit 11 generates an odor signal that indicates the intensity of a predetermined odor component. The detection unit 11 may generate an odor signal that further indicates the type of odor. The detection unit 11 inputs the generated odor signal to the control unit 12.

[0037] The control unit 12 creates odor detection information based on the odor signal input from the detection unit 11. For example, when the level of the odor signal is equal to or higher than a predetermined level, the control unit 12 creates odor detection information including text data indicating that an odor is being detected. When the level of the odor signal becomes higher than a predetermined value from a level indicating that an odor component is not being detected, the control unit 12 may create odor detection information including text data indicating that an odor has been detected.

[0038] The control unit 12 may create odor detection information including data indicating the time together with text data indicating that an odor has been detected. Furthermore, when the detection unit 11 outputs an odor signal indicating the type of odor detected, the control unit 12 may create odor detection information including text data indicating the type of odor. The control unit 12 inputs the created odor detection information to the communication unit 13.

[0039] The communication unit 13 includes a communication interface for transmitting the odor detection information input from the control unit 12 to the care support device 3 via the network N. The communication unit 13 has a controller for transmitting an odor signal in a procedure defined by the Bluetooth (registered trademark) standard, for example, and transmits the odor signal to the care support device 3 via a wireless router connected to the network N.

[0040] [Configuration of Information Terminal 2] 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of the information terminal 2. The information terminal 2 has a communication unit 21, a display unit 22, an operation unit 23, a storage unit 24, and a control unit 25.

[0041] The communication unit 21 includes a communication interface for transmitting and receiving various information to and from the care support device 3 via the network N. The communication unit 21 has a controller for transmitting and receiving information in a procedure defined by the Wi-Fi (registered trademark) standard, for example, and transmits and receives information to and from the care support device 3 via a wireless router connected to the network N.

[0042] The display unit 22 displays a screen for inputting the details of the care work performed by the caregiver, and displays various information such as recommendation information received from the care support device 3. The display unit 22 may display various screens by the control unit 25 executing application software installed in the information terminal 2, or may display a screen transmitted from the care support device 3.

[0043] Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a screen for inputting details of disposal of the excrement of a care recipient, which is one of the care tasks. In the example shown in Fig. 4, a screen is displayed for the caregiver to input whether the excrement is feces or urine, the amount of excrement, and the disposal time, which is the time when the diaper was changed.

[0044] The operation unit 23 is a device for accepting operations by a caregiver who is a user of the information terminal 2, and is, for example, a touch panel provided over the display unit 22. The operation unit 23 notifies the control unit 25 of the contents of the accepted operation.

[0045] The storage unit 24 is a storage medium including a read only memory (ROM) and a random access memory (RAM). The storage unit 24 stores a program executed by the control unit 25. The storage unit 24 also stores various information such as recommendation information received from the care support device 3.

[0046] The control unit 25 includes a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The control unit 25 executes a program stored in the storage unit 24 to display the recommendation information received from the care support device 3 on the display unit 22, identify the content of the operation performed by the caregiver on the operation unit 23, and execute a process according to the identified content. For example, when the control unit 25 inputs that the caregiver has changed the diaper, the control unit 25 creates care process execution information indicating that a process such as changing the diaper has been performed, and transmits it to the care support device 3 via the communication unit 21. The care process execution information may include the state of the excrement input by the caregiver. The state of the excrement is, for example, the type of excrement (feces or urine), the amount of excrement, or the color of the excrement.

[0047] [Configuration of nursing care support device 3] 5 is a diagram showing the configuration of the care support device 3. The care support device 3 has a communication unit 31, a display unit 32, an operation unit 33, a storage unit 34, and a control unit 35. The control unit 35 has an information acquisition unit 351, an excretion identification unit 352, a processing time point identification unit 353, and an information output unit 354.

[0048] The communication unit 31 is a communication interface for transmitting and receiving information to and from the sensor 1 via the network N. The communication unit 31 has, for example, a communication controller for connecting to the network N. The communication unit 31 notifies the control unit 35 of the odor detection information received from the sensor 1.

[0049] The display unit 32 is a device for displaying information, such as a display. The display unit 32 displays information to be presented to a user of the care support device 3 (such as a manager of a care facility or the like).

[0050] The operation unit 33 is a device for receiving an operation by a user of the care support apparatus 3, and is a mouse, a keyboard, a touch panel, or the like. The operation unit 33 inputs a signal indicating the content of the operation to the control unit .

[0051] The storage unit 34 includes storage media such as a ROM, a RAM, and a hard disk. The storage unit 34 stores, for example, a program executed by the control unit 35. The storage unit 34 also stores a care recipient database including information on care recipients and a caregiver database including information on caregivers.

[0052] Fig. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a care recipient database. In the care recipient database shown in Fig. 6, the name of the care recipient, the matters to be noted for each care recipient, the estimated time for response, the previous excretion time, the most recent time when excreta was disposed of (disposal time), and the predicted time when excreta will be next disposed of (next predicted excretion time) are associated with each other.

[0053] In the points to note column, a care recipient with a check mark next to "skin rash" indicates that the care recipient is prone to skin rashes due to excrement, and a care recipient with a check mark next to "leakage" indicates that the care recipient is prone to excrement leaking from the diaper. Details of the estimated response time will be described later, but it is, for example, the time allowed from the time of excretion to the time of cleaning up the excrement. The estimated response time for a care recipient with points to note is shorter than the estimated response time for a care recipient with no points to note.

[0054] Among the data in the care recipient database, the name, points to note, and estimated response time are input by, for example, an administrator of a care facility, etc. The previous excretion time, processing time, and next predicted excretion time are registered by the control unit 35 based on data acquired from the sensor 1 and the information terminal 2, as will be described in detail later.

[0055] The control unit 35 has a processor such as a CPU. The control unit 35 executes the programs stored in the storage unit 34 to function as an information acquisition unit 351, an excretion determination unit 352, a processing time determination unit 353, and an information output unit 354.

[0056] The information acquisition unit 351 acquires various types of information received via the communication unit 31. For example, the information acquisition unit 351 acquires odor detection information transmitted by the sensor 1 and notifies the acquired odor detection information to the excretion identification unit 352. The information acquisition unit 351 also acquires care processing implementation information transmitted by the information terminal 2 and notifies the acquired care processing implementation information to the processing time identification unit 353. The information acquisition unit 351 may notify the excretion identification unit 352 of the care processing implementation information.

[0057] The excretion identifying unit 352 identifies the excretion time, which is the time when the care recipient excretes, based on the odor detection information notified by the information acquisition unit 351. For example, the excretion identifying unit 352 identifies the time when odor detection information indicating that an odor has been detected is received as the excretion time. The excretion identifying unit 352 may also identify the excretion time by analyzing a signal pattern of the odor detection information using a trained model based on machine learning of past odor detection information. The excretion identifying unit 352 notifies the information output unit 354 of the identified excretion time. The excretion identifying unit 352 may identify a point (time) on a time axis as the excretion time, or may identify the excretion time as a time period with a certain width.

[0058] The excretion specifying unit 352 may further specify the state of the excretion at the time of excretion. For example, the excretion specifying unit 352 specifies whether the type of excretion is feces or urine based on information indicating the type of odor component included in the odor detection information. The excretion specifying unit 352 may further specify the amount of excretion based on information indicating the odor intensity indicated by the odor detection information.

[0059] The excretion identifying unit 352 may identify the type of excretion based on information included in the care processing implementation information when notified of the care processing implementation information from the information acquiring unit 351. The excretion identifying unit 352 identifies the type of excretion based on the content and amount of excretion input by the caregiver on the information terminal 2, which are included in the care processing implementation information, for example.

[0060] When there are many care recipients in a care facility or the like, the excretion specifying unit 352 specifies a plurality of excretion time points in association with the plurality of care recipients. The excretion specifying unit 352 stores the excretion time points in association with the care recipients in the care recipient database of the storage unit 34.

[0061] The processing time identifying unit 353 identifies the processing time, which is the time when the caregiver has processed the excrement. For example, the processing time identifying unit 353 identifies the time when care processing implementation information indicating that a diaper has been changed is received as the processing time. The processing time identifying unit 353 may identify the time indicated by time information included in the care processing implementation information notified by the information acquiring unit 351 as the processing time. The processing time identifying unit 353 notifies the information output unit 354 of the identified processing time.

[0062] The information output unit 354 creates various types of information based on the information notified from the excretion identifying unit 352 or the processing time identifying unit 353, and outputs the created information. The information output unit 354 creates recommendation information indicating a time when it is recommended that the caregiver of the care recipient perform one or more care tasks including processing the care recipient's excrement, based on the past excretion times of the care recipient notified from the information acquiring unit 351, and outputs the created recommendation information. The information output unit 354 transmits the recommendation information to the information terminal 2, displays it on the display unit 32, or prints it on a printer.

[0063] [First example of recommendation information display screen] Fig. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a screen including recommendation information output by the information output unit 354. In Fig. 7, the room number, the type and amount of excrement, the time when the excrement was detected (i.e., the excrement time), the elapsed time from the excrement time, the expected time when the next excretion will occur, and points to note are displayed in association with each of a plurality of care recipients.

[0064] In this way, the information output unit 354 outputs, for example, the time elapsed since the last excretion time as the recommendation information. Also, the information output unit 354 identifies a time period when the care recipient is likely to excrete next based on multiple past excretion times, and outputs recommendation information indicating the identified time period. By the information output unit 354 outputting such recommendation information, a caregiver who sees the recommendation information can know the next time to change the diaper, and a manager of a care facility or the like can appropriately assign a caregiver to change the diaper next.

[0065] The information output unit 354 may create recommendation information further based on the state of the excrement identified by the excretion identification unit 352. Specifically, the information output unit 354 creates recommendation information including information indicating whether the excrement excreted by the care recipient is feces or urine, and information indicating whether the next excrement expected to be excreted is feces or urine. Creating such recommendation information by the information output unit 354 makes it even easier for the caregiver to plan the care work.

[0066] The information output unit 354 may output recommendation information indicating a desired guideline response time as the time from the time of excretion to the time of carrying out the disposal of the excrement (hereinafter, may be referred to as "response time"). The guideline response time is a guideline of the time allowed from the time excretion to the time of completing the change of the diaper, and is stored in advance in the storage unit 34 in association with the care recipient. The guideline response time for a care recipient who is prone to rashes caused by excrement or who is prone to excrement leaking from the diaper is set shorter than the guideline response time for other care recipients.

[0067] The information output unit 354 may output recommendation information indicating the reason for hastening the disposal of excrement when the estimated time for response is equal to or less than a threshold. The threshold is, for example, the time during which a caregiver may need to stop other care work to dispose of excrement, and is, for example, 15 minutes. When the estimated time for response is equal to or less than the threshold, the information output unit 354 outputs recommendation information including the reason, for example, that the care recipient is prone to rashes caused by excrement or that excrement is prone to leak from the diaper. By the information output unit 354 outputting recommendation information including the reason in this way, the caregiver who sees the recommendation information can understand the reason for hastening, and can easily determine the priority of the work in progress.

[0068] The information output unit 354 may output recommendation information indicating the tendency of the care recipient with respect to excretion based on a plurality of past excretion times. The tendency of the care recipient with respect to excretion is, for example, a time period when the care recipient is likely to excrete, and the quality or quantity of feces or urine excreted by the care recipient. By the information output unit 354 outputting such recommendation information, it becomes easier for the caregiver to understand the tendency of the care recipient with respect to excretion and take appropriate measures.

[0069] The information output unit 354 may determine the estimated response time based on the elapsed time from a past excretion time to a processing time immediately following the past excretion time by referring to information indicating the past excretion time and the past excretion processing time stored in the memory unit 34. The information output unit 354 determines the estimated response time based on, for example, a statistical value of the response time from a plurality of past excretion times to the processing time. The information output unit 354 determines the estimated response time to be a time shorter than the longest of the plurality of past response times for a specific care recipient, and as an example, sets the average or median of the plurality of past response times for a specific care recipient as the estimated response time. Since the information output unit 354 determines the estimated response time, it is not necessary for the manager of the care facility or the like to take the trouble of determining an appropriate estimated response time for each care recipient, and this is suitable for care facilities or the like with many care recipients.

[0070] The information output unit 354 may determine the estimated response time based on the time when one or more caregivers who satisfy a predetermined condition have disposed of the excrement. The one or more caregivers are, for example, veteran caregivers with experience levels equal to or higher than a reference level. Veteran caregivers tend to understand the characteristics of the care recipient, such as whether the care recipient is prone to rashes caused by excrement. Therefore, the information output unit 354 determines the estimated response time based on the time from the time when the excrement was detected to the time when the veteran caregiver disposed of the excrement, so that the estimated response time can be determined to be suitable for the care recipient.

[0071] [Second example of recommendation information display screen] Fig. 8 is a diagram showing another example of the screen including the recommendation information output by the information output unit 354. The screen shown in Fig. 8 is displayed on the information terminal 2, for example, when the caregiver performs an operation to select a care recipient on the screen shown in Fig. 7.

[0072] The screen shown in FIG. 8 shows the time of excretion and the type and amount of excretion for the selected care recipient in the most recent 15 hours. The left and right directions in FIG. 8 indicate time, with a shaded rectangle indicating that stool has been excreted and a dotted rectangle indicating that urine has been excreted. The length of the rectangle indicates the amount of excretion. By looking at this screen, the caregiver can easily understand the next time of excretion, the type and amount of excretion, etc. In addition, this screen also shows the time allowed for disposal of excretion and points to note. By looking at this information, the caregiver can easily dispose of excretion at the appropriate time.

[0073] [Supporting the care of many care recipients] In a care facility or the like, one caregiver cares for many care recipients. The multiple care recipients under the care of one caregiver may excrete at different times or at almost the same time. In such an environment, the information output unit 354 may generate recommendation information indicating the time when it is recommended that the caregiver perform care work for each of the multiple care recipients, based on the multiple excretion times of the multiple care recipients, so that the caregiver can dispose of the excreta of the multiple care recipients in an appropriate order.

[0074] FIG. 9 is an example of a screen for allowing a caregiver to easily grasp the excretion status of multiple care recipients. In the screen shown in FIG. 9, the horizontal direction indicates time. In the screen shown in FIG. 9, information indicating the type of excretion excreted by each care recipient is displayed in chronological order in association with multiple care recipients. A thick square indicates that urine has been excreted, and the number in the upper right of the thick square indicates the amount of urine. A square with halftone dots, diagonal lines, or cross-hatched lines indicates that stool has been excreted, and the color and hardness of the stool are represented by the pattern. In addition, the number near the center of the square indicates the amount of stool. By looking at the screen shown in FIG. 9, a caregiver can easily grasp the excretion status and excretion pattern of the care recipient under his / her care.

[0075] The information output unit 354 may create recommendation information indicating the order of excretion times of multiple care recipients who are in charge of one caregiver so that the caregiver can understand that excretion should be disposed of in the order of the earliest excretion time, and output the created recommendation information. The information output unit 354 displays numbers indicating the order in which the disposal should be performed, for example, in association with the names of the care recipients on the screen shown in FIG. 9.

[0076] Since the estimated response time differs depending on the care recipient, the information output unit 354 may create recommendation information indicating a processing order different from the order of the excretion time based on the excretion time and estimated response time for each of the multiple care recipients. Specifically, the information output unit 354 subtracts the estimated response time from the elapsed time from the excretion time of each care recipient to the current time, and creates recommendation information indicating the order of the largest order based on the subtraction result. By the information output unit 354 outputting such recommendation information, the caregiver can prioritize processing the excreta of a care recipient whose estimated response time is approaching, making it less likely that the estimated response time will be exceeded.

[0077] [Support for implementing other care work] In nursing care facilities, etc., caregivers are required to perform various care tasks, such as not only disposal of excrement, but also provision of meals, assistance and administration of medication, and assistance with bathing. Therefore, caregivers are required to perform these various care tasks for multiple care recipients while disposing of excrement within the target response time. Regarding the provision of meals, caregivers are required to provide meals within the time period set by the nursing care facility, etc. In this situation, for example, if the target response time is exceeded while providing meals, problems may arise such as skin rashes or excrement leakage of the care recipient.

[0078] In order to support such a caregiver, the information output unit 354 may output recommendation information indicating the time when it is recommended to perform care work such as disposal of excrement and provision of meals to the care recipient in charge. For example, the information output unit 354 outputs recommendation information indicating, as the time when meals should be provided, a time period when the probability of exceeding the target response time is low even if the time required for providing meals (e.g., 20 minutes) has passed.

[0079] Specifically, the information output unit 354 outputs recommendation information indicating a time period during which meals should be provided, in which the time required to provide a meal plus the elapsed time from the time of excretion of each care recipient to the current time does not exceed the estimated response time, during the time period during which meals can be provided. By operating the information output unit 354 in this manner, the caregiver can dispose of excrement within the estimated response time and provide a meal at an appropriate time period.

[0080] If there is a care recipient for whom the time required to provide meals added to the elapsed time exceeds the estimated response time, the information output unit 354 outputs recommendation information indicating that the excrement of the care recipient should be disposed of first. If the information output unit 354 determines that meals cannot be provided during the time period when meals can be provided if one caregiver processes the excrement of multiple care recipients, the information output unit 354 may transmit information requesting assistance to an information terminal used by a manager of a care facility or the like. By operating the information output unit 354 in this manner, even if many care recipients excrete immediately before a meal, the excrement can be disposed of within the estimated response time, and the caregiver can provide meals at an appropriate time period.

[0081] Regarding medication, the contents of medication (i.e., type of medicine and administration method) and the time of administration vary depending on the care recipient. Therefore, the information acquisition unit 351 may further acquire medication information including the contents and time of administration of medication to the care recipient, and the information output unit 354 may create recommendation information further based on the medication information. As with providing meals, when assisting with medication after disposing of excrement, thorough hand washing is required, so it is desirable for the caregiver to assist with medication for multiple care recipients in succession as much as possible.

[0082] In order to enable the caregiver to efficiently assist in the disposal of excrement and the administration of medicine, the information output unit 354 first extracts, from among multiple care recipients for which the caregiver is responsible, those care recipients whose medication time slots overlap, and calculates the medication time required to administer medicine to the extracted care recipients. The information output unit 354 outputs recommendation information indicating, as the time slot for administering medicine, a time slot in which the elapsed time from the time of excretion of each care recipient to the current time plus the calculated medication time slot does not exceed the estimated response time. By operating in this manner, the information output unit 354 can enable the caregiver to dispose of excrement within the estimated response time and administer medicine to the care recipient at an appropriate time slot.

[0083] When there is a care recipient for whom the time obtained by adding the time required for medication to the elapsed time exceeds the estimated response time, the information output unit 354 outputs recommendation information indicating that the excrement of the care recipient should be disposed of first. When one caregiver disposes of excrement of multiple care recipients, resulting in some care recipients being unable to receive medication at the time when they should be administered medication, the information output unit 354 may transmit information requesting assistance to an information terminal used by the manager of a care facility or the like. By operating the information output unit 354 in this manner, even if many care recipients excrete just before the time when they should be administered medication, the excrement is disposed of within the estimated response time and the caregiver can administer medication at an appropriate time.

[0084] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a daily activity plan for the care recipient and the caregiver output by the information output unit 354. The items written in the "caregiver" column in FIG. 10 indicate the contents of the tasks that the caregiver should perform in each time period of the day, and the items written in the "care recipient" column indicate the contents of the actions that the care recipient will perform. "Excretion" is shown as a time period when the care recipient is highly likely to excrete. "Meals and medication", "Waking up", "Activity", and "Sleep" are shown as time periods when the care recipient is recommended to eat, take medication, wake up, be active, and sleep. The information output unit 354 outputs a work schedule for the care recipient optimized in accordance with the life rhythm of the care recipient in this way, thereby improving the work efficiency of the caregiver and increasing the satisfaction of the care recipient.

[0085] In the above embodiment, an example of optimizing the timing of medication and meals according to the time of excretion has been described, but the content of the work (care) itself may be changed based on the time of excretion or the time of disposal of each care recipient. For example, the information output unit 354 outputs recommendation information to the effect that "administer a laxative" for a care recipient who is found to have a tendency of "being constipated" based on data on past excretion times. The information output unit 354 may also output recommendation information indicating a change in the content of the work the caregiver performs for the care recipient, such as "increase fluid intake," "review dietary content by increasing dairy products," "review the type or amount of laxative you regularly use before administering a laxative for an emergency use," etc.

[0086] Furthermore, the information output unit 354 may take into account facility management constraints (cost, operation rules, etc.) when changing the timing or content of the work. For example, when the information output unit 354 receives recommendation information indicating that "it would be better to review the meal content," but the above constraints (e.g., the budget limit of the facility) cannot be met when the cooking costs (material costs, labor and labor costs for preparing a different menu) associated with the change in the meal content are taken into consideration, the information output unit 354 may output a warning message to that effect together with the recommendation information, or may output another alternative (changing the meal to a lower-cost menu) as the recommendation information.

[0087] [Optimizing the division of labor among multiple caregivers] Nursing facilities and the like have multiple caregivers who share the care work for multiple care recipients. Conventionally, the manager of the nursing facility or the like has decided which care recipients each caregiver will be responsible for, but if multiple care recipients under the care of one caregiver often excrete at the same time, it can be difficult for the caregiver to dispose of the excrement within the target response time, or the caregiver may be busy at certain times and not so busy at others.

[0088] Therefore, the information output unit 354 may output recommendation information indicating a time when it is recommended to perform care work for each of a plurality of care recipients, in association with a plurality of caregivers. The information output unit 354, for example, predicts a time period during which care work to process excrement of each care recipient will occur by referring to the past excretion time history of all care recipients receiving care in a care facility or the like. Then, the information output unit 354 predicts a time period during which excrement can be processed by adding the estimated response time of each care recipient to the predicted time period.

[0089] Fig. 11 is a diagram showing the history of excretion times of multiple care recipients. In Fig. 11, the ● indicates the time when each care recipient excreted in the past two days. Fig. 12 is a diagram showing the time periods when each care recipient is likely to excrete. In Fig. 12, the grey time periods indicate the time periods when each care recipient is likely to excrete, which are identified based on the patterns of past excretion times.

[0090] Fig. 13 is a diagram showing the available time periods for each care recipient. The time periods shown in halftone dots in Fig. 13 correspond to the grey time periods in Fig. 12. The time periods shown in vertical lines in Fig. 13 indicate the estimated response time. The combined time periods shown in halftone dots and the time periods shown in vertical lines indicate the time periods when it is highly likely that excrement will need to be processed for each care recipient. As described above, the information output unit 354 determines the available time periods shown in Fig. 13 by adding the estimated response time for each care recipient to the grey time periods shown in Fig. 12.

[0091] Fig. 14 is a diagram showing available time slots for each care recipient assigned to multiple caregivers. Fig. 14(a) shows available time slots for multiple care recipients assigned to a first caregiver, and Fig. 14(b) shows available time slots for multiple care recipients assigned to a second caregiver.

[0092] The information output unit 354 assigns multiple care recipients to multiple caregivers so that multiple available time slots corresponding to multiple care recipients assigned to one caregiver are dispersed as much as possible and one caregiver can process the excrement of multiple care recipients within a target response time. Specifically, the information output unit 354 assigns multiple care recipients to multiple caregivers so that the overlapping time slots of the multiple care recipients assigned to each caregiver is as short as possible.

[0093] Furthermore, the information output unit 354 may display the order in which each of the multiple caregivers should process the excrement of the care recipients assigned to them on the information terminal 2 of each caregiver. By the information output unit 354 outputting recommendation information including such contents to the information terminal 2, the probability that the multiple caregivers can process the excrement of the multiple care recipients within the estimated response time increases.

[0094] The information output unit 354 may determine the multiple care recipients to be assigned to the multiple caregivers, further considering the time periods during which care tasks other than disposal of excrement should be performed. In this case, the information output unit 354 selects the multiple care recipients to be assigned to each caregiver so that disposal of excrement does not have to be performed during the time periods required for care tasks such as providing meals or assisting with medication.

[0095] In this way, the information output unit 354 creates a work plan by selecting a care recipient so that the time periods during which multiple types of care work should be performed do not overlap as much as possible, and outputs the created work plan, making it possible for multiple caregivers to perform various types of care work at appropriate times.

[0096] In this case, the information output unit 354 may allocate the time when it is recommended to perform the care work within a time period (e.g., a time period other than a break time) during which the caregiver is permitted to perform the care work in the facility to which the caregiver belongs. By operating the information output unit 354 in this manner, the caregiver can take an appropriate break and dispose of the excrement of the care recipient within the estimated response time, since the caregiver is not assigned the care work during the caregiver's break time.

[0097] Furthermore, the information output unit 354 may create recommendation information to satisfy the staffing standards set for the nursing care facility to which the caregiver belongs. The staffing standards are standards for the minimum number of nursing staff, care staff, life counselors, full-time managers, etc., to be allocated to nursing care facilities, etc., set by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. The information output unit 354 may initially determine a number of care recipients to be allocated to a number of caregivers without considering the staffing standards, and then determine whether or not the result of the allocation satisfies the staffing standards, and if not, issue a warning (alert). At this time, the information output unit 354 may issue a warning (alert) if the result of the allocation shows a surplus of personnel compared to the staffing standards.

[0098] [First Modification] In the above description, the care support device 3 is provided in a care facility or the like, but the configuration and installation location of the care support device 3 are not limited to the above example.

[0099] FIG. 15 is a diagram showing the configuration of a care support system S2 according to a first modified example. In the care support system S2, a sensor 1, an information terminal 2, and an in-facility server 4 are connected to an in-facility network N1. The in-facility server 4 is, for example, a server that manages personal information of a care recipient. The information terminal 2 and the in-facility server 4 can transmit and receive various data to and from a care support device 5 via an external internet N2 (for example, the internet). The care support device 5 is a cloud server having the same functions as the care support device 3 shown in FIG. 1.

[0100] Fig. 16 is a diagram showing the configuration of a care support device 5. In Fig. 16, parts having the same functions as those of the care support device 3 shown in Fig. 5 are given the same reference numerals as those in Fig. 5. The care support device 5 has a communication unit 31, a storage unit 34, and a control unit 35. The control unit 35 executes a program stored in the storage unit 34 to function as an information acquisition unit 351, an excretion identification unit 352, a processing time point identification unit 353, and an information output unit 354.

[0101] When the care support device 5 is realized as a cloud server that can be accessed by the information terminal 2 via the external network N2 in this manner, the caregiver can check the recommended information even while taking the care recipient outside a care facility, etc., which is ideal for cases where the caregiver is sometimes active outside a care facility, etc.

[0102] [Second modified example] In the above description, the processing time identifying unit 353 identifies the processing time based on the care processing implementation information indicating that the excrement has been processed, but the processing time identifying unit 353 may identify the processing time using other means. For example, the processing time identifying unit 353 may determine the time when the intensity of the odor detected by the sensor 1 decreases as the processing time when the excrement has been processed.

[0103] However, when the care recipient leaves the bed, the sensor 1 may detect a decrease in the odor intensity even though the care recipient's excrement has not been disposed of. Therefore, the information acquisition unit 351 may acquire odor change information indicating a change in odor detected by the care support device 3 installed on the bed of the care recipient or in the vicinity of the bed, and position information indicating the position of the care recipient detected by a position sensor installed on the bed or in the vicinity of the bed. The odor change information is, for example, information including text data indicating at least one of the fact that there has been a change in odor or the amount of change in odor. In this case, the processing time determination unit 353 determines, as the processing time, the time at which it is determined that the odor has weakened based on the odor change information while the position information indicates that the care recipient is on the bed.

[0104] By operating the information acquisition unit 351 and the processing time identifying unit 353 in this manner, the processing time identifying unit 353 can identify the processing time without the caregiver having to input into the information terminal 2 that excrement has been processed, thereby reducing the burden on the caregiver. Even if the caregiver forgets to input into the information terminal 2 that excrement has been processed, the processing time identifying unit 353 can identify the processing time.

[0105] [Third Modification] In the above description, the sensor 1 is an odor sensor that detects odor, but the sensor 1 may be a sensor other than an odor sensor. For example, the sensor 1 may be a temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the diaper or a humidity sensor that detects the humidity, and may detect excretion based on a change in temperature or humidity.

[0106] [Fourth Modification] In the above explanation, an example was given of the case where the care support device 3 can be realized by a computer installed in a care facility, etc., but the functions of the care support device 3 may also be realized by processors installed in the sensor 1 and the information terminal 2 executing application software.

[0107] Although the present invention has been described above using the embodiments, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiments, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention. For example, all or part of the device can be configured by distributing or integrating functionally or physically in any unit. In addition, new embodiments resulting from any combination of multiple embodiments are also included in the embodiments of the present invention. The effect of the new embodiment resulting from the combination combines the effect of the original embodiment. [Explanation of symbols]

[0108] 1 Sensor 2. Information terminal 3. Nursing care support equipment 4. On-site server 5. Nursing care support equipment 11 Detection section 12 Control section 13. Communications Department 21 Communications Department 22 Display section 23 Control section 24 Memory section 25 Control Unit 31 Communications Department 32 Display section 33 Operation section 34 Storage section 35 Control section 351 Information Acquisition Department 352 Excretion Specification Department 353 Processing Time Identification Department 354 Information Output Section

Claims

1. an excretion identification unit that identifies types of excrement of the plurality of care recipients and excretion times, which are times when the plurality of care recipients excreted, based on information from sensors provided near each of the plurality of care recipients; a storage unit that stores an estimated response time, which is an allowable time from an excretion time until the disposal of excrement, in association with each of the plurality of care recipients; an information output unit that displays a plurality of figures corresponding to a predetermined time width on a time axis of a display screen in association with each of the plurality of care recipients, and displays information indicating a type of excrement of the care recipient in a figure among the plurality of figures corresponding to a time including the excretion time, and displays the estimated response time stored in the storage unit in association with each of the plurality of care recipients; having When the estimated response time is equal to or less than a threshold value, the information output unit displays, on the display screen, information indicating a reason for which excrement disposal should be expedited. Nursing care support equipment.

2. when the type of excrement is feces, the information output unit displays an image of a pattern corresponding to a color or hardness of the feces within the figure. The care support device according to claim 1 .

3. the information output unit displays a larger area of ​​the image within the figure as the amount of stool increases; The care support device according to claim 2.

4. The information output unit displays a number indicating the amount of stool superimposed on the image. The care support device according to claim 2 or 3.

5. when the type of excrement is only urine, the information output unit does not display the image within the figure, and displays information indicating the amount of urine within the figure. The care support device according to any one of claims 2 to 4.

6. when the types of excrement are feces and urine, the information output unit displays information indicating an amount of feces and information indicating an amount of urine at different positions within the graphic; The care support device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. The information output unit identifies a time period during which the care recipient is likely to excrete based on a plurality of past excretion times, and displays information indicating the identified time period on the display screen. The care support device according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. the information output unit causes the display screen to display information including information indicating whether the next excrement expected to be excreted is feces or urine. The care support device according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. the information output unit causes information indicating the processing order determined based on the excretion time point to be associated with the plurality of care recipients and to be displayed on the display screen. The care support device according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. the information output unit causes the display screen to display information indicating the processing order corresponding to a result of subtracting a desired guideline time from the time of the excretion until the time of performing the processing of the excretion from the elapsed time from the time of the excretion to the current time, in association with the plurality of the care recipients. The care support device according to claim 9.

11. The computer executes Identifying types of excrement of the plurality of care recipients and excretion times, which are times when the plurality of care recipients excreted, based on information from sensors provided near each of the plurality of care recipients; a step of displaying a plurality of figures corresponding to a predetermined time span on a time axis of a display screen in association with each of the plurality of care recipients, and displaying information indicating the type of excrement of the care recipient within one of the figures corresponding to a time including the excretion time, and displaying the estimated response time stored in a memory unit in association with each of the plurality of care recipients, the estimated response time being the time allowed from the excretion time until the excretion is disposed of, in a memory unit in association with each of the plurality of care recipients; having and displaying information on the display screen indicating a reason for hastening disposal of excrement when the estimated response time is equal to or less than a threshold in the step of displaying the estimated response time. Care support methods.

12. On the computer, Identifying types of excrement of the plurality of care recipients and excretion times, which are times when the plurality of care recipients excreted, based on information from sensors provided near each of the plurality of care recipients; a step of displaying a plurality of figures corresponding to a predetermined time span on a time axis of a display screen in association with each of the plurality of care recipients, and displaying information indicating the type of excrement of the care recipient within one of the figures corresponding to a time including the excretion time, and displaying the estimated response time stored in a memory unit in association with each of the plurality of care recipients, the estimated response time being the time allowed from the excretion time until the excretion is disposed of, in a memory unit in association with each of the plurality of care recipients; Run the command, A program for displaying, in the step of displaying the estimated response time, information indicating the reason why excrement disposal should be expedited, on the display screen, if the estimated response time is equal to or less than a threshold value.

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