The design and development of clothing and / or accessories to detect dehydration in older adults

Dehydration in older adults is a significant healthcare issue that can affect mental functioning as well as being a significant risk factor for developing infectious diseases, kidney stones, urinary tract infections and constipation. There is a need for timely diagnosis and adequate treatment of dehydration to reduce the impact on the patient as well as associated healthcare costs.

Within the care environment fluid intake is regularly monitored; monitoring of hydration is harder to achieve. New sensors are emerging that can alert the user to fatigue, dehydration and high body temperatures. However there has been little research to explore how these sensors are best incorporated into clothing and accessories that provide useful information and are acceptable to the users.

This research will explore the feasibility and design of body worn devices to detect hydration levels and feedback information to care staff. The interdisciplinary project will involve working with older people and their carers to co-design, develop and evaluate suitable technology that is informative and acceptable to the end users.

This research will explore the feasibility and design of clothing and accessories to detect hydration levels and feedback information to care staff. The interdisciplinary project will involve working with older people and their carers to co-design, develop and evaluate suitable body-worn technology that is informative and acceptable to the end users.

Dehydration in older adults is a significant healthcare issue that can affect mental functioning as well as being a significant risk factor for developing infectious diseases, kidney stones, urinary tract infections and constipation. There is an increased tendency for dehydration in older adults due to physiological changes with age, poor fluid intake, illness, mental and physical frailty and medication. In the care environment it is important that there is timely diagnosis and adequate treatment of dehydration to reduce the impact on the patient as well as associated healthcare costs.

New sensors are emerging that can alert the user to fatigue, dehydration and high body temperatures. However there has been little research to explore how these sensors are best incorporated into products that provide useful information and are acceptable to the users. Through this PhD, a solution will be explored that detects hydration levels and alerts the older person and associated care staff to their condition with the aim of improving mental and physical wellbeing.

Prof Richard Luxton, Institute of Bio-Sensing Technology, UWE: aims to develop academic/industrial partnerships to address the technological challenges posed by each of these sectors - from the development of novel technology for detection and measurement of biological systems to the integration of biological systems into novel sensing technology.

Benefits
• Our research strategy is underpinned by a £250m investment in research and facilities
• Dedicated Doctoral College and Centre for Research Capability Development deliver high quality professional support for researchers, from PhD to Professor
• Free training: research career planning, managing your doctorate, research communication skills, research ethics, research impact, research integrity, research methods and research supervision
• Coventry is a member of the Doctoral Training Alliance (DTA), the largest multi-partner and only nationwide doctoral training initiative of its kind.

Entry requirements
A minimum of a 2:1 first degree in a relevant discipline/subject area with a minimum 60% mark in the Project element or equivalent with a minimum 60% overall module average.

In the event of a first degree classification of less than 2:1, a Masters Degree in a relevant subject area will be considered as an equivalent. The Masters must have been attained with overall marks at minimum merit level (60%). In addition, the dissertation or equivalent element in the Masters must also have been attained with a mark at minimum merit level (60%).

• the potential to engage in innovative research and to complete the PhD within a three-year period of study
• a minimum of English language proficiency (IELTS overall minimum score of 7.0 with a minimum of 6.5 in each component)

Additionally:
• knowledge and/or experience in design
• an interest in smart materials and sensor technology
• experience of working with older adults
experience of (or a willingness to quickly learn) about co-design processes

How to apply
Apply on line https://pgrplus.coventry.ac.uk/

Submitting full supporting documentation, and covering letter, plus a 2000-word proposal addressing the research theme

Duration of study: Full-Time – between three and three and a half years fixed term

Eligibility
All nationalities with the required entry requirements. Tuition fees will be covered at the UK/EU level only.

Bursary plus Tuition Fees to the value of UK/EU Only. International applicants are thus eligible to apply, but they will need to cover the difference between international and UK/EU fees themselves.