CH716726B1 - System for supplying a person. - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system for supplying a person, the system comprising a supply device which is designed to store and/or temperature control at least food and to make the food available to the person according to a predeterminable distribution plan at a distribution point, and communication means which are designed to make visual, acoustic, tactile and/or olfactory contact with the person to be cared for.

Description

Technical field of the invention

The present invention relates to a system for caring for a person, in particular a system which is set up, in addition to providing individually adjustable food and other necessities, to contact the person to be cared for in different ways. Furthermore, the system can have data acquisition means which enable reliable and unobtrusive observation of the people to be cared for and/or an environment of the system. Among other things, means for communication with the person and other service facilities and possibly for monitoring or identifying a need for help are provided.

State of the art

In an aging society, there are increasing tasks for a dignified and adequate care and support for people who need support in a variety of ways to cope with their everyday lives, but continue to live alone as far as possible and want to maintain their independence. In addition, there is a need to be able to observe a person in need of care or help in the sense of an unobtrusive accompaniment in the absence of other people and to be able to quickly activate help in a critical situation.

To support the person living alone, but also to be able to meet the concerns of relatives or the nursing staff, different procedures for accompanying and monitoring the person concerned or their whereabouts are known. Accordingly, mobile emergency and call for help systems to be worn on the body have been developed, the disadvantages of which are well known.

[0004] In-home surveillance systems have been developed in this area to detect unusual or absent activities by a person. For example, an alarm is triggered if there are noticeably long rest periods during which no activities can be registered within a predetermined period of time. However, such systems often do not manage to display the person's real activity patterns.

[0005] DE 10 2009 003 786 discloses a system for monitoring a person by means of sensors assigned to an electronic device, which system indicates the person's interaction with the electronic device. Accordingly, data generated from the use of the electronic device can be evaluated in order to be able to assess the state of health of a person. Corresponding electronic devices can be stoves, refrigerators, washing machines, televisions or radios, with motion sensors being arranged in connection with doors, cupboards, facilities or devices.

But in particular an adequate supply of food and liquid to an elderly person living alone often proves to be problematic. Various devices are known which are designed as vending machines and which are designed both for storing and for processing food. Such vending machines are filled fully, semi-automatically or manually with food, which is stored at suitable temperatures and/or heated by various methods, for example by means of microwaves, convection heat, contact heat and/or cooled. The prepared food is then made available or handed out to a user or consumer at a correspondingly designed output device.

The provision of prepared food is also known from the public space in connection with vending machines. In a private environment, such automatic food dispensers or vending machines have so far only been used a little to supply a person who is dependent on help.

In particular, people who are impaired by age and / or illness in terms of their memory and planning and execution of activities need to provide food and fluids, possibly with necessary medication, support, which preferably not the presence of a caregiver required. In the case of dementia in particular, support in care that can be individually adapted to the changing phases of the impairment caused by dementia is desired.

It can be observed that people in need of care are increasingly losing the sense of when it is time to eat and drink something, in particular the feeling of hunger and/or thirst and the feeling of satiety are impaired. The sense of smell and/or taste also weakens continuously. As dementia progresses, a loss of temporal and spatial orientation is also lost, as are cognitive skills, such as eating with cutlery.

In order to meet these constantly changing requirements, a supply system is required which can be individually adapted to changing needs.

Summary of the Invention

The object of the invention is to develop a system for caring for a person which, in addition to a basic supply of essential things, also provides accompaniment and contact with the person to be cared for. The system for caring for a person includes a supply device with a delivery unit, wherein the supply device is designed to store and temper at least food and to make the food available to the person according to a predeterminable delivery plan at a delivery unit, and Communication means which are designed to make visual, acoustic, tactile and/or olfactory contact with the person, and a control unit to control the supply device and the communication means.

[0012] Based on a type of vending machine for storing, processing and dispensing food, this will be further developed in order to provide individual and modular support for a person to be cared for. Accordingly, the system designed as a type of household appliance with the supply device and the means of communication can be seen as a platform which, in addition to the actual function of catering or supplying a person with food such as food and drinks and/or commodities such as medicines, has other functions . One of the functions includes communicating with the person to be cared for, i.e. making contact via acoustic, visual or optical, olfactory and/or tactile signals.

In one embodiment, the supply device of the system according to the invention has a storage facility in which foodstuffs are stored as required over a specific period of time. In one embodiment, the storage device can be cooled, so that after filling, the foodstuffs are stored at suitable temperatures. The food can be stored in suitable containers in the form of prepared portions of food, possibly assembled into menus. Reusable, modularly divided containers or boxes can be filled with meals and closed with a removable lid. Alternatively, each container can contain one meal, with the size of the container being adapted to the meal portion. Accordingly, correspondingly large containers can be used for three meals a day, with the individual containers of the meal portion being correspondingly smaller for up to 40 meals a day. Containers are preferably available which, starting from a basic shape with a base area, are many times larger.

[0014] Furthermore, the containers can have a coding system via which information about the content and any necessary processing can be queried.

The containers can be stored in the storage facility according to a plan and predeterminable arrangement. In one embodiment, the storage facility comprises a number of areas in which a different number of differently dimensioned containers can be stored at a suitable temperature. For example, several storage levels can be provided, which have a transport device in order to transport individual containers to an output unit. The transport device is set up to transport containers of different sizes. Accordingly, 12 portions of food can be stored in the storage facility for four days when three meals are planned, and 160 containers are stored for the same period when there are, for example, 40 meals per day.

In one embodiment, the system includes the transport device, which is set up to move stocked components in the direction of the output unit. Depending on the requirement, the transport can take place via the heating or warming device to the output unit. The transport device can be configured differently, for example, it can include vertical and/or horizontal transport means and/or gripping means. In one embodiment, the transport device is designed in the form of conveyor belts, which are set up to individually convey a portion of food or a container in a horizontal direction and to transfer it to a conveyor device that transports the container, for example, in a vertical direction to a heating - or heating device transported. Linear motors, chain and/or toothed belts can be used for vertical conveyance.

[0017] The storage facility is preferably loaded as required, it also being possible for the requirement to be determined automatically using suitable means. According to one embodiment, the supply device of the system is designed to individually heat the stored food or food portions according to their type before consumption, in particular to heat them up in a heating or warming device. In this way, cold and, in particular, warm dishes can be provided in suitable portion sizes according to a plan. Salad, yoghurt, desserts, etc. should be chilled, soups and solid main dishes should be warmed up or heated. The heating or warming device suitable for temperature control can be arranged as a removable module in the system, in particular in the supply device. The heating or warming device can be set up differently for this purpose, temperature control by means of microwaves, induction, convection heat or contact heat being conceivable. But also by means of steam in a so-called steamer. The heating and warming device ensures that the food portion is heated as quickly and evenly as possible, with the container preferably only being heated to a temperature that is tolerable for handling. Furthermore, the heating and warming device should also offer the possibility of keeping the food portion warm over a longer period of time without the food being no longer edible due to the temperature being too high. In particular, it is provided that the food portions provided are offered ready-to-eat and can be removed from a corresponding outlet. When it comes to temperature control of the meals, both sufficient heating and hygienic aspects must be taken into account.

In a preferred embodiment of the system, this also offers drinks in addition to the processed food in the form of solid and/or liquid food. The beverages can be offered at the same time as food prepared as a meal is being dispensed or can be provided independently of this at a beverage dispenser of the supply device. For this purpose, it can be provided that the system can be connected to the conventional water supply network by means of a water line, it also being possible to heat the water for the preparation of warm or hot drinks and to aromatize it using appropriate additives. Thus, the system can include different powdered additives in appropriate dosing devices, for example coffee, tea or milk powder, which are dispensed in doses filled with water at a suitable temperature beakers or vessels. In addition, the system can be set up so that a large number of cups are stored, which can be individually removed from the storage, e.g. by a gripper element and filled with water and possibly with a powdered additive.

In one embodiment of the system, it is provided that the predeterminable output plan is adaptable in such a way that food is available for output 3 to 40 times throughout the day, either as solid food or in the form of porridge, smoothies, soups. When caring for people suffering from dementia, it is necessary to adapt the amount and form of food to the changing needs of the individual as the disease progresses. One of the requirements is therefore the provision of food at predeterminable times in an adjustable quantity and form of administration. The amount and form of administration vary. Accordingly, conventional menus for breakfast, lunch and dinner or coffee can be offered, which can be selected from an offer. However, a large number of correspondingly small portions, which are distributed throughout the day, can also be offered. In particular, one or more meals can be given out as finger food or as smooth food, which meet all the requirements in terms of nutritional value, taste and consistency for supplying a person.

The system can also be set up to provide a kind of automatic disposal of meals and/or drinks that have not been taken, whereby drinks and/or liquid meals can be disposed of into an existing drain, possibly with the interposition of a waste shredder. Provision can also be made for non-removal of a prepared meal to be detected by a sensor means after a certain period of time and a signal to be transmitted to the control unit. This can cause the meal to be returned to the storage area and at the same time display the non-removal.

[0021] An embodiment of the system according to the invention is also set up to dispense medication according to a predeterminable dosing plan at a medication dispensary, which can also be stored in the system to a certain extent. The medication can be dispensed in particular with the meals offered. It is extremely necessary that the medication is dispensed strictly according to a plan that can also be checked.

[0022] According to one embodiment, the system is set up to store objects and to deliver them in a predetermined manner. In particular, the cutlery required for eating meals can also be provided and removed. In addition to supplying a person with food, drinks and possibly medication, provision can be made for the person to be supplied to be encouraged to take part in activities by means of objects made available at an output of the system according to one embodiment. This could be a game, toy, newspaper, etc.

Other characteristics of the system according to the invention that must be fulfilled are easy cleaning and operability, whereby care must also be taken to ensure that the system does not pose any risk to the person and can be operated as quietly and energy-efficiently as possible. In particular, the system should be easy to integrate into an existing facility, for example a kitchen, with appropriate dimensions being observed. It can be provided that the external dimensions of the system correspond to the size of a commercially available built-in refrigerator or other standardized kitchen equipment. In one embodiment it is provided that the interior of the supply device of the system according to the invention is accessible via a door, preferably an entire side can be opened. Inside the supply device of the system, individual function modules of the system can be removably arranged, with these preferably being releasably connectable to an energy supply and other required components. However, some functional modules or functional means can also be arranged both on the outside and on the inside of the door of the supply device.

It is known that the natural feeling of hunger and/or thirst as well as cognitive abilities decrease in people with dementia. The system according to the invention is preferably set up to encourage the person to be cared for to eat a meal. This can be done, for example, by appetizing scents and/or smells to stimulate a feeling of hunger. In this case, means, for example odor emitters or fans, can be provided in order to emit the scent of the meal generated during tempering to the outside.

[0025] According to one embodiment, the system is also set up to address the senses of sight, hearing, smell and possibly touch in order to indicate to the person to be cared for that a meal is ready to be eaten. The means of communication are provided for this purpose, and these can act as transmitters and receivers of acoustic, visual and olfactory signals. Signals can be output continuously or discontinuously, statically or dynamically. In this way, a spatial and temporal orientation can be provided for the person to be cared for.

According to one embodiment, a loudspeaker and/or a microphone is included as the acoustic means of communication, which is set up to send/receive acoustic signals, e.g. tones or voice messages. Accordingly, a voice familiar to the person to be taken care of can draw their attention to the provided meal and also communicate with the person in an accompanying manner. By means of acoustic communication, the person to be regretted can thus be asked to perform certain actions or activities, or contact can be made with the person to transmit information. However, it is also possible to play music and/or acoustic entertainment using these acoustic means of communication. This is a useful way to get in touch with people who need care, especially those with limited vision, and it also offers a welcome guide.

A light element and/or a screen can be provided in the system as a visual means of communication, in order to enable visual contact to be made via the latter in addition to acoustic communication. In particular, by seeing and hearing a familiar person, for example a family member, taking a meal can be made more personal for the person to be cared for. A controllable camera can also be included, which visually captures the surroundings of the system in order to capture any abnormalities and to send an alarm signal to a service facility in the event of an emergency situation.

Odor emitters, e.g. nozzle devices, can be provided as olfactory means of communication, via which scents/odors can be released into the surroundings of the system in a controllable manner.

[0029] Vibration elements can be provided as tactile means of communication, which indicate by vibration that a meal is provided. It is conceivable that the person to be cared for wears a device on their body, for example on their arm or wrist, which vibrates to indicate to the person that meals, medication and/or drinks are ready and/or to be taken or other actions are required. For people living alone, especially in old age, the feeling of loneliness is great, which not only refers to the absence of voices, but also manifests itself as an absence of human closeness. In one embodiment of the system it can be provided that not only acoustic and visual stimuli are conveyed to the person, but that a kind of touch is also possible. Accordingly, it can be provided that a vibration device is integrated into a cuddly toy, for example, which also motivates actions and is related to an embodiment of the system according to the invention.

The communication unit can therefore be designed in the form of a display, in particular a touch screen, via which, in addition to visual contact, there is also the possibility of retrieving information determined by the system or relating to the system. In particular, information regarding the stored food units, the available supplies such as cups, cutlery, etc., but also powdered and/or liquid additives required for the preparation of drinks should be displayed in order to get an overview of the amount of stored components. Furthermore, information about the functionality of the system should be retrievable or visible.

In addition, it is provided that the system according to the invention comprises data acquisition means in one embodiment in order to provide information about the current condition of the person to be cared for, their position and/or their movement pattern, from which a need for help can be identified at an early stage. The data acquisition means accordingly comprise sensor devices which can transmit signals received from the environment, preferably by means of wireless communication, to a suitable external service device which is physically separate from the system according to the invention. It is advantageous here that the person to be cared for does not feel monitored and observed, but for example staff or family members entrusted with the care recognize when a change or an emergency has occurred and/or whether further care measures are required.

A sensor device can be provided to detect sound signals from the environment of the installation site of the system, so that unknown sound signals or sound signals deviating from conventional sound patterns can be detected, which are evaluated and initiate an alarm signal. Another type of sensor device can be an environment sensor, the received signals of which can be used to identify an alarming situation by comparing patterns and images and display it in a suitable form. Furthermore, sensor devices can be designed as chemical sensors or odor sensors in order to be able to detect certain substances such as blood, alcohol, urine or other bodily excrement and the composition of the ambient air in the vicinity of the installation site of the system in order to be able to conclude on a possible emergency.

[0033] The data generated from the received signals by means of various sensor devices can be logged in order to create a type of documentation which allows deviations from a normal situation to be identified at an early stage. For this purpose, predeterminable limit values can be defined as criteria for activating further actions. For example, a change in the composition of the ambient air could indicate a lack of oxygen or an increased concentration of urine could indicate incontinence or the need to change diapers for the person being cared for.

Brief description of the drawings

Preferred embodiments of the system according to the invention are shown in the drawings and are described in more detail with reference to the following description. The figures show: FIG. 1 a schematic perspective representation of a supply device according to an embodiment and FIG. 2 a schematic representation of the system for supply comprising a supply device and communication and data acquisition means as well as a control unit.

Detailed description of the embodiments of the invention

In Figure 1, a supply device 10 of a system 1 for supplying a person is shown schematically. Foodstuffs 12 can be stored and cooled in such a supply device 10 and can be heated as required. For example, the supply device 10 can comprise a type of shelf storage in a coolable storage facility 14, from which a food item 12 presented as a meal portion can be transported by means of a transport system 20 in the direction of a heating and warming system 30 and made available from there in a dispensing unit 40.

The transport device 20 is designed to promote food 12, stored in appropriately dimensioned containers 22, from a storage area of the supply device 10, for example in the horizontal and/or vertical direction. For example, the containers 22 can be stored on shelf-like, horizontal conveyor devices 24, which comprise conveyor belts that can be activated individually and are adapted to the size of the respective container 22, so that an individual container can be transferred in a horizontal direction to a vertical conveyor device 26 and from there to of the heating and warming device 30 arranged above it. The heating and warming device 30 is designed to temper the foodstuff 12 presented as a meal portion to a predeterminable individual temperature. Thus, the heating and warming device 30 can be a grill, a microwave, a steamer and/or an induction device or other device, and moreover suitable for keeping a heated portion of food warm over a certain period of time.

In particular, the supply device 10 is made in a dimension that corresponds to standard household appliances such as a refrigerator or oven and can therefore be easily integrated into a kitchen.

[0038] Furthermore, the supply device 10 comprises an area for preparing and providing beverages. This area, referred to as the beverage unit 50, comprises on the one hand a storage of cups 52, which can be removed from the storage and placed by an element 54 in order to be filled with water and additional aromas at a filling station 56 and accordingly be available at a beverage dispenser 58 .

In a preferred embodiment, the supply device 10 can also include a disposal area (not shown) in which food 12 that has not been removed, e.g. portions of food and/or drinks, can be disposed of in a simple and particularly automatic manner, for example via a correspondingly designed garbage shredder into a drain.

The system 1 for supplying a person is controlled by a control unit 70, in particular the withdrawals, the process of transport and the processing of food 12 and the provision of an output are controllable. In addition, the control unit 70 is set up to control other functions of the system 1 that are still to be described in more detail.

Figure 2 shows a schematic representation of the system 1 for supplying a person, comprising the supply device 10, which is only shown schematically here. On the outside of the supply device 10 are the dispensing unit 40 for prepared food, the drinks dispenser 58 and any medication dispenser 60 that may be present.

A display device 100 in the form of a display is also provided, via which information can be called up which not only relates to relevant personal data but also provides information about the function and the state of the supply device 10, in particular information relating to the stored data Food units, the existing necessities, such as cups, cutlery, etc., but also powdered and/or liquid additives required for the preparation of drinks are displayed in order to get an overview of the amount of stored components. Furthermore, information about the functionality of the system should be retrievable or visible.

Furthermore, communication means 90 are provided in order to be able to make acoustic, visual, tactile and/or olfactory contact with the person to be supplied and cared for. Accordingly, acoustic means 102 comprise at least one loudspeaker and one microphone in order to enable voice communication. Furthermore, sensor devices for detecting noises from the environment of the supply device 10 can be included, which allows a certain monitoring and in particular also detects calls for help. In particular, visual means 104 are provided, comprising a screen and/or light elements for visual signals. Furthermore, the visual means 104 can include sensor devices which are set up to receive visual signals from the environment, in particular a controllable and movable camera device as an environmental sensor for recording images of the area surrounding the supply device 10. Olfactory means 106 are designed, for example, as odor emitters in order to Issue fragrances and / or smells, which unfold appetizing effect. In addition, sensor devices can be provided which can analyze the air in the vicinity of the supply device 10 for specific odors such as blood, urine or the like. Further communication means 90 and sensor devices are conceivable, which are set up to supplement the environment of the supply device 10 and the establishment of contact with the person requiring care.

[0044] 110 designates a service unit which is in wireless communication with the control unit 70, for example. The service unit 110 can be set up at a distance from the supply device 10 and offers the possibility that a carer can be checked with regard to their need for help without a direct visit. The detected signals of the above-mentioned sensor devices can thus be combined and evaluated with the service unit 110 in order to be able to determine an assessment of the cognitive abilities of the person to be cared for. Furthermore, a type of protocol can be created in order to provide diagnostic information, which in turn can be used to adapt the supply device 10 to changed needs of the person caring for it.

Claims (9)

1. System (1) for the care of a person, comprising: • a supply device (10) with an output unit (40), the supply device (10) being designed to store and temper at least food (12) and to supply the food (12) according to a predeterminable output plan at an output unit (40) provide for the person, and • communication means (90) which are designed to make visual, acoustic, tactile and/or olfactory contact with the person, and • a control unit (70) to control the supply device (10) and the communication means (90). 2. System (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the system (1) further comprises a coolable storage device (14) for storing the food (12), which comprises solid or liquid food and beverages, and a heating and warming device (30 ) for tempering according to a type of food (12). 3. System (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the supply device (10) also has a drinks dispenser (58), the system (1) being set up to distribute food (12) throughout the day from 3 to 40 times according to the adaptable dispensing plan at the dispensing unit (40) and/or the beverage dispenser (58). 4. System (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the supply device (10) also has a drug dispenser (60), the system (1) being set up to dispense drugs in accordance with a predeterminable dosing plan at the drug dispenser (60). to spend 5. System (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the system (1) is set up to store objects for the animation of activities and to deliver them in a predetermined manner. 6. System (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the communication means (90) as acoustic means (102) a loudspeaker and / or a microphone for transmitting and receiving acoustic signals, as visual means (104) a screen and /or comprising a light element for visual signals, as olfactory means (106) an odor emitter for the controllable release of scents and odors as olfactory signals into the environment and/or vibration elements as tactile means of communication. 7. System (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the system (1) has data acquisition means, the data acquisition means comprise sensor devices and are set up to monitor an environment of the system (1), with signals received from the sensor device an external service unit (110) can be transmitted. 8. System (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the sensor devices are set up to wirelessly transmit signals received from them to the external service unit (110). 9. System (1) according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the system (1) comprises a data unit which is set up to store and evaluate received signals from the sensor devices in the form of data in order to create documentation.