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Quote of the Month
"The amount of sleep required by the average person is five minutes more."
Wilson Mizner, American Playwright, Raconteur & Entrepreneur

As we age our sleep habits change and more than half of men and women over the age of 65 have at least one sleep problem. Contributing factors include poor sleep habits, medical conditions, medications, sleep apnea, and retirement (Ha! who knew?). Good, restorative sleep is important to our physical health as well as our emotional health. Can monitoring your sleep, especially in the comfort of your own home, help you sleep better? Here are a few companies* that think so:

Nyx Devices has a Somnus sleep shirt made of extremely lightweight, breathable material embedded with thin, flexible sensors. Add in the SleepLogger and you can record the quality and the quantity of your sleep.

ActiSleep SleepMonitor provides sleep quality measurements such as sleep onset, sleep latency, total sleep time, number and duration of awakenings and sleep efficiency. Can be worn around ankle, wrist or waist.

The FitBit Ultra tracks activity as well as sleep. Put the wireless device into the sleep wristband and it tracks your body's movements, how often you wake up and actual sleep time.

did you know...

Scientists have not been able to explain a 1998 study showing a bright light shone on the backs of human knees can reset the brain's sleep-wake clock.

Zeo is a comprehensive system to help you improve your sleep. They offer a mobile and a bedside option. The bedside system is composed of a lightweight wireless headband, a bedside display, a set of online analytical tools, and an email-based personalized coaching program. They also have a quick online questionnaire to find out your sleep age.

iPhone users can use their phone as a sleep monitor. The newer phones have an integrated sensor that lets apps like "Sleep Cycle" monitor sleep by simply placing it on your bed. And for .99 (U.S.) it certainly is an inexpensive way to learn how you sleep.

Maybe a Polar Bear is all you need for a good night's sleep? This pillowbot is designed to stop chronic snorers or those who suffer from sleep apnea by a gentle brush on the cheek. Click here to watch a demo.

Or could your mattress be keeping you from the sleep you need? Check out The Better Sleep Council website for information about selecting and buying a mattress.

* We are not affiliated in any way with these companies.

Ford Motor Company joins with Microsoft, Healthrageous and BlueMetal Architects to study how connected devices can help people monitor and maintain health & wellness. "People are spending more time in their cars, and with the tremendous growth in mobile healthcare solutions, Ford is dedicated to understanding the value of being able to connect to health and wellness-related services while driving," said Gary Strumolo, manager of Infotainment, Interiors, Health and Wellness at Ford Research and Innovation. “Our connectivity platform – Ford SYNC – provides easy, voice-controlled access to mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets, and therefore it makes sense to research areas that are important to our customers."

As people spend more time in their cars, the ability to manage health and wellness on the go becomes more important. There are several reasons why the automobile is an ideal platform for research and development in this area:

• It’s convenient and private

• It facilitates personalized access to the information, products and services people need

• And it’s a logical place for them to manage their health while they are more often stuck in traffic

The goal is to figure out how to extend health management into the personal vehicle in a nonintrusive fashion.

How does it work?

The system would capture biometric and vehicle data as the basis for real-time health and wellness advice and monitoring. The driver can also tell the app aspects of his or her health routine – such as the number of glasses of water consumed during the day, or what pills have been taken. That information is then uploaded into Microsoft's HealthVault personal health record platform, processed with other health data, and used to create graphical reports the driver can access after having left the vehicle. The technology is not considered a medical device nor intended to be a diagnostic tool.

Your rants, raves, suggestions and stories are always welcome! Tell us what we can do to help you age-in-place, in your home, your way.

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