Reducing Falls with Home Automation

The National Council of Aging named September 22 Fall Prevention Awareness Day. Under the slogan, “Ready, Steady, Balance: Prevent Falls in 2016,” the event served to highlight the dangers of falling, especially among the elderly, and aimed to promote awareness of ways to prevent falls. You can reduce your risk of injury by staying healthy and following the instructions of your doctor, but there are other methods that employ some of the latest advances in technology. Home automation systems in particular have proven to be remarkably useful in managing the risk of falls, and they help many seniors age in place within comfortable surroundings.

Emergency Monitoring
Older individuals have made good use of personal emergency response systems for decades now. They usually come in the form of a small pendant or bracelet that the senior can wear, and they allow the user to press a single button to summon emergency services. Modern emergency response solutions work well with standard computing platforms, are easy to use and support features that go well beyond what was possible before. Some units are even capable of detecting when a senior has fallen and will contact emergency responders automatically—even if the activation button has not been pressed.

Video Cameras and Remote Monitoring
Now that inexpensive video cameras can be installed in virtually any home, caregivers have a convenient way to keep tabs on those whose health is important to them. Not only does this technology allow for a quick response in the event of a fall, but it also enables health care professionals and family members to observe when a senior might be walking unsteadily and then intervene to prevent a fall. Smart cameras are capable of streaming video over the Internet, allowing concerned individuals to monitor the situation from afar using their cellphones. The addition of video doorbells allows the homeowner to grant entry to friends and family members without having to get up and walk to the door, thus reducing the chance of falls.

Smart Lights
Smart lights permit the easy control of illumination levels throughout the property from a central control unit, a smartphone or through voice commands. This eliminates the problem of stumbling around in the dark because the resident will be able to turn the lights on without having to physically press a switch. In combination with motion sensors, smart lights can even operate entirely independently without the user having to do anything once the initial installation and configuration are completed. Although these benefits extend to almost everyone who is equipped with the right products, the gains are especially worthwhile for the elderly, who tend to have worse eyesight than the population as a whole.

Today’s smart home systems can generally improve well-being, convenience and ease of communications for almost anyone, but especially for seniors with reduced mobility or debilitating conditions, such as Alzheimer’s. These cutting-edge devices permit millions of elders to remain in their familiar home environments rather than having to move to nursing homes. The proper use of the appropriate equipment can make a difference in lowering the likelihood of slips, falls and other accidents.

Falls are one of the leading causes of death for those older than 65, but there are plenty of steps one can take to avoid them. While common sense goes a long way, there is also a role for sophisticated home automation systems. These devices take the burden off the elderly by making it less likely for a fall to happen in the first place and by alerting medical personnel immediately when one does occur.