ORO positional sensor for supported sleep
ORO positional sensor for supported sleep
Gentle positional support for people living with dementia
Changes in sleep are common among people living with dementia. Some may find it difficult to settle, wake frequently or become disorientated during the night. Others may need help following a positioning plan recommended by a healthcare professional.
The ORO Side-Sleep Sensor is a small wearable device designed to detect when the user remains lying on their back. Positioned between the shoulders, it produces a gentle vibration after one minute, providing a simple prompt to return to a side-sleeping position.
It can be used at home or within an appropriate care environment as part of an individually assessed sleep and positioning plan.
Key benefits
- Provides a gentle prompt to return to the side
- Detects when the wearer remains on their back
- Uses vibration rather than a loud audible alarm
- Small and lightweight
- Can support an agreed night-time positioning routine
- May reduce the need for repeated verbal reminders
- Suitable for home and professional care settings
- Can be incorporated into an individual care plan
A calm reminder rather than a loud alarm
Sudden noises can be confusing or distressing for a person living with dementia, particularly if they wake in unfamiliar surroundings or are unable to understand the source of an alarm.
The ORO Side-Sleep Sensor uses a discreet vibration instead. If the wearer remains on their back for more than one minute, the device gently prompts them to change position without introducing a loud sound into the room.
Individual responses will vary. A carer should assess whether the wearer recognises and responds appropriately to the vibration before the sensor is relied upon as part of their routine.
How it works
The sensor is positioned between the shoulders using the specially designed garment supplied. Once activated, it monitors your sleeping orientation rather than your baby or any of your baby’s vital signs. If you roll onto your back and stay there for more than one minute, the sensor vibrates gently. This subtle prompt is intended to encourage you to turn back onto either side before returning to sleep.
There is no need for a loud audible alarm. The vibration is designed to alert the wearer discreetly without waking a partner or disturbing the rest of the household.
1. Position the sensor
The lightweight device is worn securely between the shoulders using a compatible garment or attachment system.
2. Activate it at bedtime
The sensor is switched on as part of the wearer’s usual night-time routine.
3. Detect back sleeping
If the wearer rolls onto their back and remains there for more than one minute, the sensor identifies the change in orientation.
4. Provide a gentle prompt
The device vibrates, encouraging the wearer to change position or alerting an attending carer that positional assistance may be needed.
Supporting an individual positioning plan
There is emerging scientific interest in the relationship between sleep, sleeping position and the brain’s waste-clearance processes. However, current evidence does not establish that side sleeping treats dementia, slows its progression or prevents Alzheimer’s disease.
For someone already living with dementia, the most appropriate sleeping position depends on their individual health, mobility, comfort and care needs. Side sleeping may be recommended for reasons such as comfort, breathing, snoring or an established positioning plan, but it will not be suitable for everyone.
The ORO Side-Sleep Sensor should therefore be described as a positioning aid, not a dementia treatment. Its role is to help reinforce a side-sleeping routine that has already been considered appropriate by the person’s GP, nurse, physiotherapist, occupational therapist or care team.
Designed around dignity and familiarity
A successful bedtime routine for someone living with dementia should be calm, familiar and as uncomplicated as possible. The sensor can be introduced as one small part of that routine.
Where possible:
- Introduce the device gradually during the daytime
- Explain its purpose using simple, reassuring language
- Let the person handle or examine it before use
- Check that the garment and sensor feel comfortable
- Observe how the wearer responds to the vibration
- Use it consistently within a familiar bedtime routine
- Record its use in the person’s care plan
- Review it regularly as the person’s needs change
The person’s comfort, consent and dignity should always come first.
Suitable for home or managed care
The sensor may be considered for:
- People living at home with support from a partner or family member
- Individuals receiving domiciliary care
- Residential and nursing-home residents
- People following a clinician-approved positioning programme
- Situations where a discreet positional prompt is preferred to a loud alarm
The sensor is not a substitute for supervision when a person requires help turning, is at risk of falling, has restricted mobility or cannot reliably respond to the vibration.
Important considerations for carers
Before introducing the sensor, establish whether the wearer can safely turn without assistance. A person with reduced mobility may try to respond to the vibration and place themselves at risk of falling, entrapment or injury.
The device may not be appropriate if the wearer:
- Cannot change position independently
- Is distressed or confused by vibration
- Has fragile skin or a pressure injury between the shoulders
- Uses medical equipment that could be displaced when turning
- Has been advised to sleep in another position
- Is at risk of falling or becoming trapped while repositioning
- Is unable to communicate discomfort
- Is receiving palliative or end-of-life care without clinical approval
Seek advice from the person’s healthcare or care team if there is any uncertainty.
A simple aid for a more consistent routine
When side sleeping has been recommended for an individual, the ORO Side-Sleep Sensor provides a discreet way to reinforce that position. Its gentle vibration can become part of a familiar sleep routine while avoiding the disruption of a loud alarm.
Thoughtful positional support, designed around comfort, dignity and individual care.
Important safety information
This product is a positional aid. It is not a dementia treatment, medical monitor, fall alarm, pressure-relief system or replacement for professional assessment and care.
A risk assessment should be completed before it is used by anyone with cognitive impairment, restricted mobility, fragile skin, pressure-ulcer risk, respiratory illness or complex care needs.
What's included ?
The ORO Side-Sleep Sensor Package contains:
- One ORO Stillbirth Prevention Sensor
- Three compatible bras
- Three compatible pairs of briefs
- Operating and care instructions
Frequently asked questions
Does side sleeping treat dementia?
No. The sensor does not treat, cure or slow dementia. It is a positional reminder intended to support a side-sleeping routine when that routine has been judged suitable for the individual.
Can it prevent Alzheimer’s disease?
No such claim can currently be made. Research into sleep, sleeping position and the brain’s waste-clearance systems is continuing, but there is not sufficient clinical evidence to say that a positional sensor prevents dementia.
Will the vibration wake or frighten the wearer?
Responses vary. The vibration is designed to be gentler than an audible alarm, but it could still confuse or distress some people. Test it while the person is awake and introduce it gradually.
Can it replace overnight care?
No. It does not monitor breathing, circulation, falls, wandering, pressure injuries or other changes in health. It must not replace observation or support specified in the person’s care plan.
What if the person cannot turn without help?
The device should not be used as an independent prompt. Ask a healthcare professional whether it has an appropriate role within a supervised repositioning plan.
Can it be used in a care home?
Potentially, but only after an individual assessment. Its use should be documented, consent and capacity requirements considered, and the person’s response monitored by the care team.
OROMED International Ltd
53 Denham Lodge
Oxford Road
Uxbridge
UB9 4AB UK
Tel: +44 (0)1895 311 631