McMaster Monitoring My Mobility (MacM3)
Major Program of Research
Problems with everyday mobility, such as walking or driving, are common in older adulthood and can negatively impact health and social functioning. This project brings together leading scholars in aging, mobility, and technology research from several McMaster Faculties to investigate the manifestation of mobility problems at its earliest stages. The proposed research program aims to use advanced technological approaches to understand early changes in older peoples’ mobility, and to identify those who will benefit from further healthcare follow-up and early preventative treatment. The team proposes to undertake a number of interrelated research projects to address these issues, including understanding the impact of early changes in mobility on an older person’s level of functioning, applying machine learning techniques to data from the CLSA to find the most relevant predictors of early mobility problems, using technology to monitor and predict different aspects of mobility in the home and community, and developing a “mobility signature” tool. This tool will be used to assess and depict a person’s mobility status and risk for decline based on key mobility indicators. Ultimately, with this tool, the team hopes to help older people, healthcare professionals, and policymakers to prevent or delay late-life mobility problems through early detection and intervention.
To learn more, visit the project website at macm3.com
