Change Detection in Vital Signs Associated with Impending Death for Homecare Patients Using a Pressure-Sensing Mat

Clinicians observe decline in physical function (or activities of daily living, ADLs) in patients at the end of their lives, and patients experience a multitude of physiological changes such as muscle weakness, dysphagia, and altered level of consciousness In addition to these physiological changes, vital signs such as heart rate, blood pressure, and respiratory rate also provide useful information on the patient's health status, and these changes can signify impending death Accurate prediction of impending death is of great importance to clinicians who attend to patients at the end of life because it could affect their communication with patients and families and inform complex decision making such as discontinuation of investigations and aggressive treatments, discharge planning, and enrollment into clinical care pathways.