Students develop AI-based system to support senior care, inspired by a team member’s experience as a long-term patient

Sync Labs is an AI-based, home-monitoring system designed to help caregivers better understand the daily routines and needs of older adults living independently. The solution combines two small, non-wearable environmental sensors installed in key areas of the home, allowing everyday activities to be monitored in a private and non-intrusive way.

The project began in 2024 at the University of Pennsylvania (USA), when a group of engineering students explored how technology could reduce caregiver burden and support more personalised care for seniors. The development of Sync Labs was strongly influenced by the personal experience of one team member, Melanie Herbert, who spent much of her childhood as a long-term patient undergoing surgeries, chemotherapy and extended hospitalisations. Through this experience, she developed a close understanding of what it means to rely on caregivers and how challenging it can be for them to respond effectively when information about a person’s daily condition is incomplete or fragmented.

Drawing on this perspective, the team designed Sync Labs to collect meaningful information without using cameras, microphones or wearable devices. Using data from the two environmental sensors, the system can detect patterns such as eating, presence in different spaces, falls, and the frequency and duration of bathroom use. Rather than providing raw data, Sync Labs summarises changes in activity or behaviour into simple insights that caregivers can quickly review, helping them understand what has happened since their last visit and adapt care accordingly.

By reducing the time caregivers spend reconstructing daily events, the system allows them to focus more fully on providing the type of responsive, personalised support that many older adults need to remain independent in their own homes.

Sync Labs continued to develop throughout 2024 and early 2025, and the project received the 2025 President’s Innovation Prize at the University of Pennsylvania, highlighting its potential to make daily care more manageable for both seniors and caregivers. Pilot testing is currently taking place in Pennsylvania, as the team continues to refine the system based on real-world use and feedback.

Adapted from:
https://penntoday.upenn.edu/news/penn-students-develop-ai-driven-solutio...