The sleep state detecting apparatus and method, and the monitored person monitoring support system of the present invention measure the target person with each of a first sensor and a second sensor, and sleep the target person based on the first measurement result of the first sensor. The state is determined, the detection timing is detected based on the second measurement result of the second sensor, and the sleep state determination process is controlled according to the detection result.本発明の睡眠状態検出装置および該方法ならびに被監視者監視支援システムは、第１および第２センサそれぞれで対象者を測定し、前記第１センサの第１測定結果に基づいて前記対象者の睡眠状態を判定し、前記第２センサの第２測定結果に基づいて検出タイミングを検知し、この検知結果に応じて前記睡眠状態の判定処理を制御する。
