Alzheimers Association
The progression of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias is associated with a decline in functional abilities. This results in care partners taking on more responsibilities for completing activities of daily living and an increase in their burden level. Care partners of people living with dementia (PLWD) have higher rates of co-morbid health conditions. Higher levels of functional impairment are associated with an increased risk of institutionalization for the PLWD. Support services may be put in place after an initial assessment but following changes over time is left to the care partner. Identifying level of burden and when additional supports are required can be difficult for an already overwhelmed care partner.
PI: Neil Thomas
Publications
B. Chimehi, J. Larivière-Chartier, B. Wallace, L. Ault, F. Knoefel, J. Kaye, Z. Beattie, J. Steele, L. Anderson, N.Thomas, “Digital Signatures of Caregiver Burden: Machine Learning Classification Using Multimodal In-Home Sensor Data”, ISG 2026
N. Thomas, MD, J. Larivière-Chartier, B. Chimehi, R. Dey, L. Ault, B. Wallace, F. Knoefel, J. Kaye, Z. Beattie, L. Sheehy, J. Steele, L. Miller, “Using Machine Learning to Identify Features from Home Sensors that Predict Care Partner Burden”, accepted at Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC), 2025.
N. Thomas, B. Chimehi, J. Lariviere-Chartier, L. Ault, B. Wallace, Z. Beattie, L. Sheehy, J. Steele, L. Miller, “Assessment of Weekly Fluctuations in Zarit Burden Interview Scores in Caregivers of Individuals with Cognitive Impairment” Alzheimer’s & Dementia: the journal of the Alzheimer’s Association Volume 20 Pages e092292, 2024
Link to paper
Thomas N, Chimehi B, Lariviere-Chartier J, Knoefel F, Beattie Z, Steele J, Miller L, Wallace B. Strengths and Limitations of using Different Sensor Technologies to Assess Clinical Outcomes In Dyadic Care”. Innov Aging. 2024 Dec 31;8(Suppl 1):434.
Bahareh Chimehi, Julien Larivière-Chartier, Bruce Wallace, Zachary Beattie, Laura Ault, Lyndsey Miller, Joel Steele, Neil Thomas, Sensor Assessment of Time in Bed on Caregiver Burden for Person Living with Cognitive Impairment, IEEE International Symposium on Medical Measurements (MeMeA) 2024, 2024
Link to Paper
