As our population ages, addressing fall risks among the elderly becomes increasingly crucial for maintaining their well-being. Falls are a prevalent concern among older adults, leading to severe consequences such as injuries, hospitalizations, and decreased quality of life. Recent studies have shed light on the correlation between fall incidents and health status among the elderly, as well as the effectiveness of wearable technology in detecting and preventing such events.

Despite advancements in technology, preventing falls entirely remains a challenge. However, wearable devices equipped with fall detection capabilities offer a proactive approach to mitigate risks. By alerting caregivers or emergency services immediately after a real fall occurs, these devices facilitate prompt medical intervention, potentially reducing injury severity and improving outcomes for the elderly population.

Not all wearables are finding success, however as comfort, privacy, practicality, and user experience affect usage rates.

Listen to this episode of Healthcare Insights in Northwest North Carolina with special guest, Richard Hirsh, Chief Marketing Officer for UnaliWear, a wearables tech company and producer of the Kanega watch for fall prevention.

To meet an identified gap for clinical team members in ambulatory / primary care, Northwest AHEC developed an interactive, online, self-paced accredited program on the topic of Falls Screening, Risk Assessment and Care Planning.

Falls Prevention Awareness Week is a national health campaign observed on the first day of fall to increase awareness around falls health and injury prevention. Join us September 20-24, 2021 for Falls Prevention Week, a nationwide effort to raise awareness that falls are preventable. Read more on our blog and check out our online Falls Prevention activity!

As a clinician working in an outpatient setting, are you confident in how and when to appropriately screen patients for falls?  

As a clinician working in an outpatient setting, are you confident in how and when to appropriately screen patients for falls?