10 Fall Prevention Technological Advancements in 2014 · concept, but they are worthless if people...

CONTENTS

1. New Mobile Medical Alert System Has Sophisticated Locator Technology. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

2. Vibrating Insoles Could Reduce Falls. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

3. Wristwatch Incorporates Personal Response System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

4. Study Shows Success of Fall Risk Predictive Solution. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

5. RFID Fall Management Solution Expands Product Line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

6. Wireless Sensor System Tests for Falls Risk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

7. Care Coordination Meets Sensor Technology. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

8. Remote Monitoring Patch Wins FDA Clearance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

9. Computer Games Help Prevent Falls in Elderly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

10. Treadmill Program May Help Seniors Avoid Falls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

10 Fall Prevention Technological Advancements in 2014

presents…

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1. New Mobile Medical Alert System Has Sophisticated Locator Technology

By Richard R. Rogoski

Incorporating six location technologies and featuring a rechargeable pen-

dant, the Philips Lifeline GoSafe mobile medical alert system gives seniors

24-hour protection no matter where they are.

The mobile personal emergency response system (mPERS), devel-

oped by Royal Philips, uses a “hybrid” locating approach, which

allows a response center to locate seniors who need assistance even

if they are in an area where GPS is not available.

In addition, the GoSafe system has a built-in fall detection feature

that automatically calls for help if it detects a fall.

“We have known for 20 years that falls are common, expensive and

that many falls are preventable,” Dorothy Baker, PhD, Yale University

School of Medicine, said in a press release. “Should a fall occur, the

sooner the person can get up or get help, the better the outcome.

If a person can’t get up, it is important to have a plan that one can count

on to call for help at any time, day or night, wherever a fall should occur.”

2. Vibrating Insoles Could Reduce Falls


A new study published in the Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabili-

tation shows that small vibrations applied to the soles of the feet can help

seniors retain their balance and prevent falls.

Researchers from the Institute for Aging Research (IFAR) at Hebrew

SeniorLife, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, the Wyss Institute for


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Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University, and Har-

vard Medical School, all of Boston, Mass.; and Merck Sharpe and

Dohme Consumer Care Inc., Memphis, Tenn., collaborated on the

project, which used a urethane foam insole embedded with “piezo-

electric actuators” that turn electrical energy into mechanical sig-

nals, such as vibrations.

Earlier studies by the Wyss Institute had shown that such vibrations

could help restore balance. But the new study, involving 12 volun-

teers between the ages of 65 and 90, was the first to use piezo-

electric actuators, commonly-available insoles and a rechargeable

battery inside the tongue of a shoe. Although the test group is small, the

study could prompt larger studies involving wearable, low-cost methods

to help seniors combat sensory loss and retain balance.

“Although loss of sensation in the feet is a common problem among elder-

ly people that can impair balance and gait and result in falls, there are cur-

rently no interventions available that can reverse sensory impairments and

prevent these dangerous consequences,” said study lead author Lewis

Lipsitz, MD, Director of the Institute for Aging Research in a press release.

“We were very excited to discover that small amounts of vibratory noise

applied to the soles of the feet may be able to do just that.”

3. Wristwatch Incorporates Personal Response System


Breaking the tradition of offering a personal emergency response system

(PERS) in a wearable pendant, San Francisco-based Lively now offers

PERS safety watch.

As an enhancement to the company’s in-home monitoring system, the

safety watch does not require an internet connection but uses cellular

connectivity and an in-home hub with a range of 1,000 feet. For distances

greater than that, the watch can connect to a smartphone.

The new watch also includes a button for 24/7 emergency response, a

pedometer and a medication reminder. Next year the company will add

automatic fall detection technology.

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“Personal Emergency Response devices are an enormously valuable

concept, but they are worthless if people aren’t wearing them,” said Iggy

Fanlo, co-founder and CEO of Lively, in a press release. “Compliance with

daily use is the biggest oversight with current offerings–older adults don’t

like to admit it, and family members have no way of knowing otherwise. In

fact, we’ve been amazed that other PERs products that have the ability to

communicate compliance, do not; leaving family members unaware that

their loved one is not wearing their pendant-style device.”

4. Study Shows Success of Bed-Exit Prediction Solution


The use of a bed-exit prediction solution could greatly reduce the risk of

falls among residents, according to results from a study conducted at a

long-term care facility.

Researchers used the fall prevention monitoring system from Waltham,

Mass.-based EarlySense Inc., which features a predictive alert that sens-

es when a resident begins to get out of bed. By responding to every alert,

researchers found that the predictive notification preceded the actual

event by 57 to 72 seconds, with a positive predictive value of up to 67

percent. Researchers concluded that being able to predict a bed exit in a

timely manner could give the staff enough time to intercede.

“We are working with numerous healthcare facilities, some were

experiencing 4–5 falls per month in a given care area, and after

implementation of the EarlySense System, and educating staff

about the importance of response times to a bed exit alert, these

rates have been reduced to in some cases less than one fall per

month,” said Tim O’Malley, president of EarlySense, in a press

release. “[The system] allows caregivers to titrate bed exit sensitiv-

ity to a particular patient, and track the alert response time to the

bedside or chair of a patient. This complete solution gives caregiv-

ers the confidence that they can provide safe and efficient care by

being at the patient’s side before they exit the bed or chair.”

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5. RFID Fall Management Solution Expands Product Line


Using radio frequency identification (RFID) as a way to prevent falls among

older adults is the mainstay of Brookfield, Wis.-based RF Technologies’

product line.

Now the company has released new sensor options for its Sensatec Fall

Management Solution, a restraint-free monitoring system for residents at

risk of falling.

The newly added products include foldable bed and chair sensor pads, a

toilet sensor pad and a seat belt sensor.

Both the foldable sensor pads and the seat belt sensors are connected to

the Sensatec alarm system, which alerts the staff if a resident tries to get

up without assistance.

6. Wireless Sensor System Tests for Falls Risk


The standard “Timed Up and Go” (TUG) test for seniors is going high-

tech. An Ireland-based startup company, Kinesis Health Technologies,

has developed a wireless device that allows a healthcare provider to mea-

sure a person’s mobility and assess falls risk.

Called QTUG (Quantitative Timed Up and Go), the system uses small wire-

less sensors that are strapped to a person’s legs. Using Bluetooth tech-

nology, these sensors transmit to a touchscreen tablet computer walking

data including speed and shifts in weight and can therefore provide a

quantitative assessment of mobility and falls risk.

Such data also are compared with a reference population based on age

and gender and stored so that any deterioration of a person’s gait or bal-

ance over time can be noted.

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7. Care Coordination Meets Sensor Technology


Chicago-based Caremerge continues its partnering activity, announcing

a partnership with Nashville-based Care Technology Systems. The news

comes just two months after it announced a partnership with Lively.

Caremerge, which uses a cloud-based platform and an intuitive interface

to enable real-time interactions between care team members, will now be

able to integrate data collected from Care Technology Systems’ passive

sensors that are placed throughout a senior’s home to gauge normal life

patterns and behavior trends.

In a press release posted on Care Technology Systems’ website, Asif

Khan, founder and CEO of Caremerge, said, “We are excited to be

partnering with Care Technology Systems. By utilizing their data cap-

ture and analytics and integrating them into senior living workflows,

both companies can provide significant value add to our clients. To

begin with, fall prevention analytics will help provide higher quality

of life for seniors, and then better decision making for care providers

along with peace of mind for the families.”

Jim Anderson, founder and president of Care Technology Systems,

also noted: “This partnership is about providing the caregivers with

the best tools and technology possible that generates the most relevant

data. This enhances the quality of life for seniors along with much needed

sense of relief for their families and caregivers.”

8. Remote Monitoring Patch Wins FDA Clearance


San Jose, Calif.-based Vital Connect has announced that its HealthPatch

MD wearable monitoring patch has been cleared by the U.S. Food and

Drug Administration (FDA) for monitoring patients at home.

Weighing only 10 grams with a thickness of 6 mm, the patch allows health-

care providers to remotely monitor vital signs, such as heart rate, heart

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rate variability, respiratory rate, skin temperature and posture—

including fall detection.

Data collected from the sensors are sent to a relay or smartphone

via Bluetooth and are stored in a Health Insurance Portability and

Accountability Act-compliant cloud.

The patch was designed primarily for short-term monitoring of those

with chronic conditions who were recently discharged from a hospital or

who may benefit from around-the-clock monitoring.

“Receiving FDA clearance for HealthPatch MD to be used in home care

settings is an important milestone for the future of the healthcare indus-

try,” says Vital Connect CEO Nersi Nazari. “Medical professionals will

soon be able to provide unparalleled service to their home care patients

because the HealthPatch MD will allow them to know if a patient’s heart

rate or respiratory rate, for example, crosses a predetermined threshold

and react accordingly.”

9. Computer Games Help Prevent Falls in Elderly


Researchers from Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Founda-

tion Trust and the University of Manchester have developed a set of three

computer games they say can help prevent falls in older adults by encour-

aging them to perform simple exercises.

Called Exergames, these computer games use Microsoft Kinect

sensors to monitor body movements and are programmable by cli-

nicians to fit the physical abilities of each individual.

Game-related activities include squatting, leg lifts and moving

objects on a TV or computer screen. The software also records how

often the game was played and tracks the player’s progression.

“We spoke to a lot of older people and physiotherapists before cre-

ating the games, because it was really important that what we pro-

duced was easy to use and made keeping fit as fun as possible for

the target audience,” said Emma Stanmore, PhD, a lecturer in nursing at

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the University of Manchester in a press release. “Many individuals over

the age of 65 haven’t played computer games before, but those who have

been helping us test the technology have given us very positive feedback.”

10. Treadmill Program May Help Seniors Avoid Falls

by Lois A. Bowers, Senior Editor, Long-Term Living

Seniors and physical therapists one day may benefit from a computerized

treadmill program under development to prevent falls and fall-related inju-

ries in older adults.

Clive Pai, PhD, a professor of physical therapy at the University of Illinois at

Chicago, is developing the program using a five-year, $1 million grant from

the National Institute of Aging. It replicates a training device he uses in his

laboratory that is too bulky for a typical physical therapy office.

Using a special walkway in his lab, Pai recently studied several inde-

pendently living adults aged 65 to almost 90 years. Participants weren’t

told when or how they might fall as they walked, strapped into a safety

harness. Suddenly, the footing surface would slide out from under them;

the effect was as if they were stepping on a banana peel.

“For the first time, the second time, and maybe the third time, they expe-

rienced falling,” Pai says. “And then, all of sudden, they stopped falling.

They were so quick to adapt.”

Pai discovered that the seniors retained what they had learned in his lab

for as long as 12 months. They were less likely to fall when they returned

to the lab six months to a year later, and in their daily lives they were 50

percent less likely to fall in the year after training than in the year before.

The research team discovered that the tests and training can be safe even

for people with reduced bone density, and Pai hopes it will be safe even

for those who have osteoporosis. ♦

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10 Fall Prevention Technological Advancements in 2014 · concept, but they are worthless if people...

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