As the seasons change, it’s time to change our perceptions of at-home safety. While we often associate fall prevention with specialized equipment, the truth is that many of us already have powerful tools at our fingertips that can significantly enhance safety for seniors aging in place.
Let’s leave fall to the season by discussing ways to make our homes safer for those at risk of falls and mobility issues. From smartphones and smart speakers to common household gadgets, our homes are filled with technology that can be creatively repurposed to reduce fall risks. Join us in exploring how these everyday devices can become unexpected allies in maintaining independence and safety for older adults.
Fall Prevention Technology to Know:
While fall prevention technology is not a new concept, it has often been overshadowed by the popularity of fall detection devices. It’s important to note that there is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to fall prevention technology. Our LifeCircles Physical and Occupational Therapists continue to advocate for basic fall reduction techniques, such as staying physically fit, using assistive devices properly, ensuring well-lit and clutter-free pathways, and removing potential tripping hazards like throw rugs and uneven flooring.
If you or a loved one has fallen – think about where falls have happened at home – are there any trends that you can see? Do they happen in the same part of the house, at the same time of day or night? You can use this information to target what changes are needed at home and focus on those trends. If you haven’t had falls, you can think about the most common places people fall and build a plan from there. Bedrooms, living rooms, and bathrooms are usually at the top of the list.
Lighting The Way: Smart Lighting
Well-lit and clear pathways are crucial in reducing falls. Motion sensor light bulbs and smart devices can be used to light the way to the bathroom at night on demand or be turned on and off with a timer. Smart motion-sensing night lights can even be stuck to a wall without the need for hard wiring or directing into your outlets.
If memory and urgency seem to be challenges that lead to falls, consider scheduling reminders at different times during the day/evening to remind you to take the dog outside, use the restroom, take medications, or that your daughter is coming over on Tuesday afternoon to help with your shower, etc., so you are less likely to get up urgently when you remember something.
Smart Devices Made Simple
Another great way to reduce fall prevention is through community. Using a smart device with video chatting capabilities to engage in at-home fitness routines or check-ins is one way to stay active and strong to reduce the risk of falling. Health monitoring smart watches can now detect steadiness, stride length, and the tendency to favor one foot over the other. Companies believe that trending this personal data can indicate a decline in someone’s mobility, which may be an indicator to reach out to a physician or physical therapist. Many of these devices can also send the data to friends or family members.
Monitoring with Privacy
Monitoring devices such as a Ring Camera are also tools people who live alone may opt to incorporate. For those concerned about privacy, small GPS-enabled devices like an Apple Airtag or Tile Tracker that can be attached to a walker or clothes are a good alternative to monitoring without video surveillance. Medical alert systems like Personal Emergency Response buttons (PERs), can be helpful after there is a fall or another type of emergency. With modern advancements, many of these tools now offer GPS along with fall detection technology.
Challenging the Misconception
Fall prevention for seniors doesn’t always require expensive, specialized equipment. Remember, the key is to find the right balance between technological assistance and personal comfort. While these gadgets can be incredibly helpful, they should complement, not replace, basic fall prevention strategies like regular exercise, clutter-free spaces, and proper use of assistive devices. By thoughtfully integrating everyday tools into daily routines, we can empower seniors to age in place safely and confidently.
Finally, some people believe that if someone is a high fall risk, they should move into a more supervised living situation to reduce that risk. LifeCircles keeps track of falls of our members – so we can trend and try to reduce people having the same fall more than once. With this data we can also compare and contrast the falls of our members who live at home with our services vs our members who live in assisted living facilities with our services. We see over and over that there are more falls for people living in these facilities.