Technology’s role in keeping senior living residents safe continues to grow. HSC Technology, an Australian-based senior living care solution provider, is testing new tools that use the internet of things to detect and prevent falls. This technology could also be adopted for senior living communities and nursing homes in the US.

HSC’s platform, currently under review, combines data analytics and sensor technology into a single dashboard to monitor senior living residents for signs of falls. Falls, which are preventable, are a leading cause of premature death in senior care, HSC researchers noted.

The company is testing several types of sensors for its platform, including a falls radar sensor, a sleep sensor that sits under a bed, a vibration sensor placed near a toilet and staff wearables, such as distress or call button pendants with real-time locating systems. The sensors measure for issues such as when a person has fallen but a call button isn’t within reach, unassisted movement from one place to another, when mobility aids such as walkers are out of reach and social isolation. The platform will measure overall patterns of care and send staff alerts so they can provide residents with assistance and support residents who have signs of deterioration.

In the US, the appeal for such devices is expected to grow. One recently-launched device, Cherish Serenity, uses AI radar technology to detect biometrics, body movements, falls and other safety risks through sensors, without the use of cameras.

Falls cost the US health system $50 billion a year, and by 2030, there will be 72 million older adults experiencing a combined 52 million falls each year at a cost of $101 billion annually, according to SafelyYou’s 2022 State of Falls report.