A Monitoring Automation Recipe Cookbook: Simple Open-Source Solutions for Home-Based Support of People Living With Dementia and Their Caregivers

Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) are vital to maintaining quality of life among People Living with Dementia (PLwD), whose cognitive impairment often impacts independence in daily activities. This paper presents smart home automation “recipes” that can assist ADLs, particularly bathing—safely one of the most complex due to safety risks like falls and burns. The automation recipes incorporate open-interface sensors, motion detection, and real-time alerts, with features targeted at dementia progression stages.Interventions at early stages include voice reminders and water temperature automatic adjustments; middle-stage features include safety reminders, activity-based inactivity detection, and water shut-off; caregiver-aided monitoring forms the interventions at late stages. The ergonomically and cognitively designed intuitive dashboard of the system allows caregivers to easily select and customize automation sequences based on special needs.Central design elements— e.g., large touch-sensitive buttons, high contrast screens, and voice-controlled commands—encourage use by both caregivers and PLwD. By facilitating safer, more independent bathing and reducing the need for constant supervision, the system reduces caregiver burden. Human factors and ergonomics are central to making such solutions practical, accessible, and effective for dementia care in the home.