Konstanz, 15.May 2025. A new Alpine Rhine-Lake Constance-High Rhine region project redefines how we care for the aging population. Prof. Dr. Seepold says, “With just one smart 3D sensor per room, CareVolutionAI combines cutting-edge AI and privacy-first design to monitor, support, and protect – not only the elderly, but the caregivers themselves”. Discover how real-time behavior analysis, long-term data insights, and intelligent dashboards could change the face of nursing care forever.

The CareVolutionAI project uses an advanced combination of 3D sensor technology and artificial intelligence that has been specially developed for the requirements of care facilities. At the heart of the technology is a room-based 3D sensor that contactlessly records movements and behavioral patterns in the resident’s room. No personal image data is processed, only data protection-compliant 3D point clouds. The entire analysis takes place directly in the sensor itself (edge computing), which means that neither raw data nor sensitive information leaves the room. This architecture meets the highest data security and privacy protection requirements. The artificial intelligence is based on deep learning algorithms that can automatically detect various care-related events, including falls, getting up at night, restlessness or immobility in bed. The aim is to detect critical situations at an early stage and provide targeted support to care staff. In addition, movement and behavioral data is analyzed over longer periods of time in order to identify long-term trends such as increased risk of falls, incipient cognitive disorders or pressure ulcer risks. The information obtained is visualized via an interactive dashboard that addresses not only the nursing staff, but also the management level and regional decision-makers. This care cockpit prepares the AI results in such a way that they can be used both for daily care and for strategic decisions. Thanks to over-the-air updates, new AI modules such as delirium detection or sleep behavior analysis can be easily retrofitted, making the system flexible and future-proof. Overall, this technological approach enables precise, continuous and at the same time unobtrusive support for care.

Methodology

Nursing staff in elderly care facilities are increasingly confronted with complex challenges: Staff shortages, unplannable monitoring tasks, high physical and mental stress and a growing documentation burden. This situation not only affects the quality of care, but also the well-being of the care staff themselves. CareVolutionAI addresses this problem with a holistic approach that combines technological innovation with a deep understanding of the working reality of care staff.

The central element of the project is the introduction of intelligent 3D sensors which, with embedded AI processing, are able to record care-related activities and critical events directly in the resident’s room. This real-time data processing creates new processes in care: instead of regular, routine check-ups, care staff can react specifically to events that are actually relevant. This means that time and personnel resources are used more efficiently.

A particular focus is on the question of how this digitalization affects the well-being and job satisfaction of nursing staff. In a scientifically supported study with nursing staff from Germany, Austria and Switzerland, changes in workload, stress levels and subjective well-being are recorded. In addition, KPIs such as the number of avoidable check-ups, response times in emergencies and documentation-relevant events are systematically recorded.

The data generated by the sensors not only provides valuable information on patient safety and care, but also enables data-based care planning and staff allocation. Long-term trends – such as nocturnal restlessness, fall risks or bed mobility – can be visualized and combined with administrative data to improve care processes in a targeted manner. Strict attention is paid to data protection and the anonymity of employees.

These intelligent assistance systems can significantly reduce the workload of care staff. More time for interpersonal attention, reduced psychological stress due to fewer false alarms and predictable task distribution lead to a more sustainable working environment. CareVolutionAI thus makes an important contribution to strengthening the resilience of care staff and the attractiveness of the long-term care profession – an essential building block for the future viability of the healthcare sector in the ABH region.

Innovation

The CareVolutionAI project pursues an innovative and holistic approach to the digitalization of care that clearly stands out from previous solutions. At its heart is an AI-supported 3D sensor that uses just one device per room to record and analyze all care-related activities in compliance with data protection regulations. This enables both resident behavior and potential risk situations such as falls or restlessness to be detected in real time. What is special is that not only individual events but also comprehensive behavioral patterns are continuously evaluated and aggregated at various levels – from the individual room to the region. This enables well-founded decisions to be made at care, management and political level for the first time. The project involves stakeholders from Germany, Austria and Switzerland and takes country-specific conditions into account as early as the design phase. Another unique selling point is the focus on nursing staff: CareVolutionAI is scientifically investigating the effects of digitalization on the workload, stress and satisfaction of nursing staff. This makes the technology not only a tool for better care, but also a concrete way to reduce the workload and increase the attractiveness of the nursing profession. The already established state of the art of the technology used also enables rapid use in everyday practice, while the modular expandability ensures sustainable further development. CareVolutionAI thus combines technological, social and organizational innovation in a forward-looking project approach for care in the entire ABH region.

The “CareVolutionAI” project is funded by the Interreg Alpenrhein-Bodensee-Hochrhein program (www.interreg.org) with no. ABH036.