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Observational study demonstrates high acceptability and continuous tracking of mobility decline in nursing home residents, suggesting wearable sensors can support geriatric care.
Falls are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among older adults, yet objective gait data in nursing homes are rarely available to inform clinical decision-making. We conducted a 30-day observational feasibility study using a lightweight, torso-mounted wearable sensor to continuously measure gait in 16 nursing home residents. Linear mixed-effects models evaluated hourly and daily associations among step count, gait symmetry, foot strength, time, self-reported activity status (active vs inactive), and walking status (independent vs requiring assistance). Daily step counts declined driven primarily by participants reporting low activity, while active participants demonstrated stable mobility. Walking status significantly modified longitudinal foot strength trajectories, with steeper declines among participants requiring assistance. Device acceptability was high and stable at 7 and 30 days. Continuous gait monitoring was feasible and well tolerated, supporting further evaluation in geriatric care.
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Lin et al. (2026) studied this question.
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