LifeWorks: Development of an Integrated Suite of Life Management Tools for Individuals with Disabilities and Caregivers

This project develops and evaluates the feasibility of a client-server application that integrates accessible life management tools for individuals with disabilities and those who support them in residential environments to improve the independent living capacity of persons with cognitive disabilities. A common database of information about an individual’s life and needs is developed providing relevant, actionable, and accessible data delivered to either the consumer or other stakeholders such as family members or support staff. The system is accessible from both desktop and mobile platforms with wireless connectivity to a shared database that pushes relevant data to consumer and caregiver users and that integrates with “cloud computing” applications in compliance with electronic health record standards. This system draws from several data sources, including individualized service plans; medical records; sensor data from “smart home” monitoring systems; location context; and key events from consumer and caregivers that define important personal care routines, household management tasks, and rehabilitation activities.