PCARDIO Wearables contributes to the SPREAD+ MINDD Project: Measuring Social Interaction in Dementia Care
At PCARDIO Wearables, we believe wearable technology should not only monitor physiology — it should also help improve human care, communication, and quality of life.
We are therefore proud to be actively involved in the SPREAD+ MINDD Project, an innovative initiative focused on understanding and improving social interaction between care providers and persons with dementia (PwD) in nursing home environments.
Within this project, PCARDIO provides the wearable hardware platform and contributes to the signal processing and AI work package, helping translate complex real-world interactions into measurable insights.
Why Social Interaction Matters in Dementia Care
Social interactions are essential to human well-being. This is especially true for people living with dementia.
Positive interactions with caregivers can help persons with dementia feel:
- understood
- safe
- connected
- able to express needs
- emotionally supported
At the same time, negative or stressful interactions may lead to:
- misunderstandings
- frustration
- anxiety
- escalation of behavior
- increased pressure on care staff
Improving these interactions has the potential to enhance both quality of care and staff well-being, while also helping reduce absenteeism and burnout.
A Challenge in Today’s Care Practice
In standard care processes, social interaction is rarely measured objectively.
Instead, many organizations rely on:
- subjective behavioral observations
- written reports in care plans
- retrospective discussions
- occasional video feedback sessions
While video analysis can provide valuable insights, it is often:
- time-consuming
- costly
- dependent on specialized expertise
- difficult to scale in daily care environments
This creates a clear opportunity for more practical and data-driven approaches.
A New Technology Platform for Social Interaction Analysis
The SPREAD+ MINDD Project aims to develop a new platform that combines:
- wearable sensor systems
- radar technology
- physiological monitoring
- proximity and movement data
- intelligent data analysis
Together, these technologies can help assess key aspects of social interaction, such as:
- physical distance and proximity
- movement patterns
- stress-related physiological responses
- interaction dynamics over time
- possible indicators of positive or negative engagement
The Role of PCARDIO Wearables
Within the project, PCARDIO Wearables contributes through its modular multi-sensor platform and engineering expertise.
Our role includes:
Wearable Hardware Platform
PCARDIO provides robust wearable sensing hardware capable of capturing synchronized physiological and motion-related signals in real-world care settings.
Signal Processing
We help transform raw sensor data into meaningful indicators relevant to interaction quality and stress detection.
AI Development
PCARDIO contributes to intelligent algorithms that may help classify interaction patterns and support future educational or coaching tools for caregivers.
Co-Creation with the Care Sector & Medical Researchers
A key strength of the project is its practical and iterative approach.
During development, care providers are actively involved to help determine:
- which elements of interaction matter most
- what feedback would be useful in practice
- how technology can support, not burden, care workflows
- what an educational device should look like
This cyclical design process ensures that innovation remains grounded in real-world needs.
Expected Outcomes of the Project
The SPREAD+ MINDD initiative aims to deliver:
- Practical knowledge about measurable elements of social interaction
- Translation of these elements into sensor and radar-based measurements
- A platform that integrates multiple interaction signals into one system
- Validation of results using video footage as a reference method
Why This Matters
Healthcare systems across Europe face increasing pressure from:
- ageing populations
- rising dementia prevalence
- staff shortages
- growing care complexity
Technology should not replace human contact — it should help strengthen it.
By making social interaction measurable and understandable, projects like SPREAD+ MINDD may help create:
- better care experiences for persons with dementia
- more confident caregivers
- more effective training methods
- healthier working environments
Looking Ahead
At PCARDIO, we are proud to support innovation where wearable technology meets meaningful human impact. The SPREAD+ MINDD Project is an excellent example of how sensing, AI, and compassionate care can come together to solve real societal challenges. We look forward to sharing future progress.
Interested in Collaborative Innovation?
PCARDIO Wearables supports projects in:
- healthcare innovation
- wearable sensing
- physiological monitoring
- AI-enabled care solutions
- OEM platform development
