6 Best Fall Detection Devices for Seniors & Elderly

Older individuals, especially those who live alone, face the terrifying prospect of falling every day. The CDC estimates that every year, 3 million people aged 65 and up are treated in emergency rooms after suffering injuries in a fall. One out of every five falls results in a significant injury that could have long-lasting effects on the person's ability to move freely and independently, which is also very concerning.

While studies have shown that many fall-related injuries can be avoided or at least mitigated, the fact remains that falls continue to have a severe impact on the lives of the elderly. 

Thankfully, the direct results can be avoided with the aid of fall detection equipment. Using this technology can give caretakers and family members an extra buffer against stress and anxiety over their loved one's well-being.

What Are Fall Detection Devices?

People who had suffered a fall would have lain on the ground for hours before anyone realized that they required assistance. This was common before the advent of technology that detects falls.

Today, there are technologies that can detect a person's sudden shift in position and help lessen the danger of long-term harm. These devices are called fall detection devices. Even if the individual is unable to contact for assistance on their own, the device will do it automatically, thereby triggering a rapid emergency response to deal with the predicament.

How Do Fall Detection Devices Work?

Wearable sensor devices and ambient sensor devices are the two categories of fall detection technology now available.

An accelerometer sensor that is included in a watch, pendant, belt, or clip-on device can detect the rate at which a person is moving toward the ground in the event that they experience a fall. 

An algorithm determines if the person fell. If this is the case, the gadget will send a notification to the monitoring team that the manufacturer employs. After that, a representative makes contact with the individual through a speaker contained within the apparatus.

If the individual verifies that they have been injured as a result of falling, the agent will send a notification to the individual's emergency contact that has been recorded in the system. If the individual who potentially fell doesn't react, their emergency contact is contacted automatically.

Numerous wearable sensor devices additionally include a manual button for the user to press in the event that they are able to notify a fall on their own.

Video cameras are positioned in an optimal manner inside a person's home using ambient sensor technology in order to monitor their movement. The monitoring service makes touch with the individual through a speaker installed in the home whenever the environmental sensors detect a fall.

If the individual verifies that they have been injured as a result of falling, the monitoring service agent will notify the individual's emergency contact. When the person who has fallen does not respond or provide any feedback, the person who is listed as their emergency contact is automatically contacted.

According to Fritzi Gros-Daillon, director of education and advocacy at Age Safe America, none of these devices can guarantee a fall detection accuracy of one hundred percent. Age Safe America is an organization that promotes the safety, security, and longevity of older adults who choose to age at home. Gros-Daillon notes that the majority of these gadgets are able to detect at least 85 percent of falls.

According to studies, a smartwatch is able to detect a fall; but gadgets that are worn closer to a person's center of gravity (such as a necklace or pendant) detect falls more precisely.

Gros-Daillon explains that an apparatus worn close to the shoulder provides the sensor with the largest distance measurement from the ground, which improves the sensor's accuracy. Alterations in barometric pressure are another factor that some devices employ to establish whether a fall has taken place.

The individual who is at risk of falling must be willing to utilize the fall detection equipment to reap the benefits of having it. This is similar to the situation with hearing aids and other assistive devices.

Best Fall Detection Devices for Seniors 

The Apple Watch 5 is the greatest smartwatch for elders. It has numerous functions that seniors may find useful, such as monitoring their health and detecting falls automatically, as well as phoning and messaging.

While the Apple Watch is expensive initially, there is no ongoing expense associated with using it as it is connected to an iPhone. The Apple Watch requires a monthly mobile service fee through your selected provider if you wish to use it independently.

With Lively, you can join up for optional monitoring services for as little as $25 a month.

The many health-tracking apps and built-in messaging functions are certainly selling points, as is the device's slick aesthetic. However, the automated fall detection feature on the Apple Watch 5 is what really caught our attention. This is a standard function for medical alert systems, although this kind of smartwatch is still rather rare. The Apple Watch Series 5 will send you a notification if it detects a dramatic change in your velocity or altitude and wonders if you need help. It will alert the authorities if you don't respond within 60 seconds.

The Apple Watch display can be modified in the same ways as the one on your phone can. Personal preferences can be taken into account while selecting a suitable health app. There are apps that help you fall-detect, monitor your cardiovascular health, sleep, activity, nutrition, and even blood sugar levels.

In terms of functionality, the Versa 2 is more like a tracker than a smartwatch. It's waterproof, so you can wear it when swimming, running, or cycling to keep tabs on your heart rate, steps, and calorie burn.

The Fitbit Versa 2 includes the Alexa smart assistant, allowing users to set alarms and reminders for things like medication and appointments. If you have your phone handy, you can use Bluetooth to make calls and send messages, but unlike the Apple Watch 5, this watch does not have built-in messaging features. The voice and quick reply functionalities are Android-only additions.

The watch's face is legible even with aging eyes. Moreover, it allows you to keep it on at all times, which expedites access to your data. Plus, the battery can keep going for up to six days without being recharged. You may even change the band to something more to your liking, just like the Apple Watch 5.

This monitor is great for older folks who want to get moving but may not know where to begin because of its health-tracking features, large screen, and smart integrated assistant. However, it's missing several essential functions like GPS and fall detection that might save lives.

The Road ID is a fashionable, adaptable, and reasonably priced medical ID bracelet. While we highlighted high-tech gadgets for the elderly that can be used to summon assistance even when you're by yourself in a crisis, this easy-to-implement workaround is worth highlighting when you find yourself in the company of concerned bystanders. Without a medical ID bracelet, first responders will be unaware of any sensitivities or disorders that may require special attention.

In order to measure blood pressure, the Omron HeartGuide SmartWatch has a wrist cuff built in. You can take your blood pressure whenever you want because you can always keep it on you.

The effects of eating, drinking, sleeping, sitting, and moving around on blood pressure can be observed by taking readings at regular intervals throughout the day. The Omron HeartGuide also records your activity levels and monitors your heart rate as you sleep.

We've researched the market and found that the best blood pressure monitors are made by Omron. So, while HeartGuide is undoubtedly novel, we're relieved to discover that it's been created by a respected company. The bulky wristband and nearly 500 dollar price tag are the only real drawbacks of this piece of wearable technology.

While fall detection is not typically included in the finest no-contract medical alert systems, they do offer many of the same features as their monitored counterparts. As a result, the Freedom Alert Emergency System stands out despite its lack of a fall detection feature. This highly regarded device allows users to have one-on-one conversations with the people it reaches via telephone through a necklace that they wear.

If the caller is unable to talk, a prerecorded message is played so that the recipient can transfer the call to the local emergency operator. In addition, the user has the option of setting the system to contact either solely personal contacts, personal contacts, and then 911, or 911 directly in the event of an emergency.

A loved one can keep tabs on their loved one's activities with the use of a fall-detecting watch called the Angel Watch Series R - Assist. Due to the lack of a paid monitoring service, prices are kept low. A cellular service package, which enables the watch to make phone and video calls, will cost you around ten dollars per month.

When there's a problem, like a fall, caregivers may check in with loved ones and see what's happening right away. Additionally, a drop-in feature allows you to listen in on the conversation even if a senior person is unable to pick up the phone. 

The caregiver app allows you to track your loved one via GPS, set medicine reminders, and check in on their activity levels throughout the day.The Angel Watch can check vitals like heart rate and temperature.

Things To Consider While Buying A Fall Detection Device

Researching the various fall detection systems on the market, along with their many features and advantages, is necessary before selecting a device to detect falls. Gros-Daillon recommends taking into consideration the following aspects:

While some businesses will ship the user the devices along with the instructions for setting them up, others may send a technician to the user's location to set up the system. 

A fall detection device should be easy to use once it has been installed, configured, and tested successfully. When you have a fall, you should be able to simply self-report it by pressing a button or instantly connect to an agent who can help you coordinate an emergency response on your behalf by doing it for you.

Equipment prices, minimum contract lengths, and recurring monthly monitoring fees are all factors that differentiate medical emergency alert systems. Subscription costs can range from less than 15 dollars to more than 60 dollars per month.

Free fall detection is included with some medical alert system packages at no additional cost. In other models, it is necessary for the customer to pay an additional cost each month to add fall detection sensors to the system. Typically, the automated fall detection feature will cost an additional 10 dollars per month on a system.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the device work?

A fall detection sensor, like an airbag in a car, can detect a fall by tracking the direction and velocity of the body upon impact.

You won't have to worry about pressing a button in case you pass out or are unable to reach your fall detection gadget because it will automatically call for help if its sensors detect a fall.

Should I Get an In-Home Device System or Mobile Device?

There's a good chance that an in-house system will meet your demands if you spend most of your time at home or rarely leave it on your own. But if you're constantly on the go, a portable security system may be a better option.

Many of the organizations we've included in our roundup of medical alert monitoring services have dual systems that consist of both stationary and portable components. If you're on the fence about which system to buy, you can cover both bases with a dual system.

Final Remarks

Unless they are worn constantly, none of these wearable technologies will ever be useful in a real-world situation. In designing smartwatches for the elderly, it is important to put practicality and ease of use ahead of more gimmicky functions like texting and video calling. While features like activity and fitness tracking may be appealing, they shouldn't be prioritized over life-saving capabilities. Wearable technology designed for the elderly should facilitate their ability to continue to do so in a secure and autonomous manner.

Less expensive, quality hearing aids cannot come fast enough for Americans

Annual Hearing Tests: Who Is Required & Why They Matter

Daily Routines & Habits For Elderly

Best Diet for Seniors For Weight Loss & Healthy Hearing

Hobbies and Activities Seniors Can Enjoy During Lockdown

Best Bed Alarms For Elderly (A Comprehensive Guide)

Safety for Seniors: Essential Anti-Slip Products to Have

When Do You Know It Is Time for a Walking Cane?