Fall prevention and intervention are going high tech. A platform of drones, smartphones and sensors show promise for remotely monitoring the elderly and identifying heart rate and temperature shifts that could trigger falls, researchers say.
Pouring over nearly 120 worldwide studies on fall-prevention technology, investigators found that the majority were tested in lab settings utilizing students, and some used mannequins to simulate falls. Zero, they said, tested fall tech with seniors in real-life environments.
Handrails or grab bars are the most common modification made for seniors, closely followed by rugs to prevent tripping, according to a new analysis. Fewer are saying they are installing sensors.
SCA, which makes TENA incontinence products, has announced that the TENA Identifi is in the final stages of regulatory clearance in the U.S.
Caremerge LLC unveiled plans for a partnership with Care Technology Systems in April. Data and alerts from the latter’s sensors can be combined with activity and clinical data from Caremerge, providing a more complete reporting picture.
Just like the markets for skilled nursing and assisted living, demand for sensors in home care is expected to jump in the next five years.
Intel-GE Care Innovations™ and Caradigm are intending to form a partnership that uses Care Innovations™ remote patient monitoring and smart sensor technologies with the Caradigm™ Intelligence Platform.
What will we see in the assisted living world this year? The following are my best guesses, given ongoing conversations with assisted living communities across the country and seeing firsthand how the economy has forced change in census and staffing.
