Wearable Sensors and Everyday Adaptation Strategies to Understand Daily Functioning in Older Adults

Growing older brings many changes, but everyone wants to stay healthy, active and independent for as long as possible. To support this, it is important to better understand how older adults carry out their everyday activities and what they are able to do in daily life. These abilities are known as intrinsic capacity: what a person is physically and mentally capable of in everyday situations.

We know that this capacity differs from person to person and can change over the years. We also know that people often develop smart ways to continue doing daily tasks comfortably and safely. At the same time, new opportunities are emerging to gain insight into this—such as measuring bodily signals with wearable sensors. But how does this actually work in daily life? Which signals truly show what someone can do, and which ways or adjustments help people continue carrying out activities when something changes?

In this study, we will explore these questions together with participants. We aim to understand how older adults organise their days, which ways or adjustments they use when something changes, and how their living environment can support them. With this knowledge, we can work towards better support for healthy and independent ageing.

what are we working on?

In this study, we examine how wearable sensors can help us gain better insight into how older adults function in daily life. These sensors measure so-called biomarkers. These are simple bodily signals that provide information about movement, posture and heart rate during familiar everyday activities. By measuring these signals, we hope to better understand what older adults are physically and mentally capable of in daily life.

In addition to these measurements, we will also talk with participants. In an interview, we explore which ways or adjustments people use themselves when their daily functioning changes. This may include small changes in how someone moves, plans tasks or uses aids to continue carrying out activities comfortably and safely.

By combining the sensor data with these personal experiences, we can gain a more complete picture of how people deal with changes in their daily lives. For this study, we would like to collaborate with independently living adults aged 65 and older with different levels of daily functioning.

what do we ask of you?

For this study, you will make one visit to the eHealth House, a research home on the university campus that resembles an apartment.

1. First, we apply the wearable sensors. You will not experience any discomfort from this.
2. Next, you carry out everyday activities at your own pace, such as walking through the home, doing a simple task in the kitchen, getting in and out of bed, or walking to the toilet.
3. These activities are safe, familiar, and meant to reflect your daily life as closely as possible.
4. After this, there will be a relaxed interview in which you can explain how you normally approach these tasks, what you find important, and which adaptive strategies you use.

Why participation can be interesting and meaningful: you gain insight into your functioning, your experiences can help improve support for older adults, and you contribute to the development of better tools for healthy ageing.

who can participate and when

Anyone aged 65 or older who can safely perform simple daily tasks is welcome to participate. (The activities themselves are described above.)

• Participation takes place once, between October 2025 and March 2026.
• Location: the eHealth House on the University of Twente campus. You can take a look here.
• Date: you can choose a time and day that suits you.
• Transportation to and from the location can be arranged for you if needed.

People with severe cognitive impairments or who do not speak Dutch unfortunately cannot participate.

meet the researchers

This study is conducted by Dr. Gregorio Dotti (University of Twente) and Jaro Govaerts (VU Amsterdam). They specialise in technology for healthy ageing. The project is funded through the Dutch ZonMw Open Competition.

registration

Next to your email adress, we also ask for your phone number so we can contact you directly. You will receive a response within 3–5 working days. You will receive more information by email, and we will schedule a phone call to plan your visit to the eHealth House and ask a few short preparatory questions.

• Participation in scientific research is always voluntary.
• When you sign up for a study, you will receive an automatic confirmation email. This email will inform you when you can expect to hear from the researcher.
• The researcher will then contact you with more information about the study and answer any questions you may have.
• After this contact, you will confirm your participation and fill out a consent form.
• Once you have given your consent, you will receive a copy of the consent form.
• An ethical committee has reviewed this study and provided a positive recommendation, ensuring that the research is scientifically rigorous and conducted according to participants' rights.
• Your contact information will only be used as you have indicated. We will only share your details with the researcher of the study you are participating in. If you have opted to stay informed about new research, you will receive a maximum of one update per month. If there are any changes to this, we will contact you first.  Read here for detailed information on how we handle personal data.