In-Home Sensor Predicts Falls

Falls are such a scourge for the elderly. And, decided researchers from the Sinclair School of Nursing and the College of Engineering at the University of Missouri, more can be done to prevent them. These scientists have found that sensors that measure in-home gait speed and stride length can predict falls that will occur within three weeks.

“We have developed a non-wearable sensor system that can measure walking patterns in the home, including gait speed and stride length, ” said Marjorie Skubic, Ph.D., director of the MU Center for Eldercare and Rehabilitation Technology and professor of electrical and computer engineering, in the August 26, 2016 news release.

As indicated in the news release, “To predict falls, researchers used data collected from sensor systems at TigerPlace, an innovative aging-in-place retirement residence, located in Columbia, Missouri. The system generated images and an alert email for nurses indicating when irregular motion was detected. This information could be used to assist nurses in assessing functional decline, providing treatment and preventing falls.

“Results from an analysis of the sensor system data found that a gait speed decline of 5 centimeters per second was associated with an 86.3 percent probability of falling within the following three weeks. Researchers also found that shortened stride length was associated with a 50.6 percent probability of falling within the next three weeks.”

Dr. Skubic told OTW, “A fall or even a risk of falling often is the turning point that forces older adults out of their home. So it can have a huge impact on their independence and quality of life. If someone falls and cannot get help soon, this also impacts their chances for recovery. We have seen this with our own family members. So we want to detect falls and get people help as soon as possible (we have developed fall detection systems also), but a real win is when you can detect that someone has a high risk of falling and get them help that prevents the fall in the first place.

“The in-home gait analysis system is part of a larger system that recognizes very early changes in health and generates alerts. This is designed to help get people help very early, i.e., to address health problems when they are still small and manageable.

“I would like to see this be prescribed as a way of monitoring someone who might be at risk of falling, while at the same time allowing them to live in the home they choose. We all have family members that have been affected by falls, so this whole line of research is very personal.”