This week is Falls Prevention Week (September 23rd -27th) and is being supported by Monmouthshire County Council.

Preventing falls is crucial, not only for avoiding injuries, but also for maintaining independence, dignity, and quality of life.

Falls are a significant concern, especially for older adults or people with reduced mobility. They can lead to serious injuries, hospital admissions and a loss of independence.

However, many falls are preventable with the right measures in place.

The Assistive Technology service can offer innovative solutions to help people live safely, securely and comfortably in their own homes. 

This includes a Lifeline and Falls Detector worn on the wrist, a dual-purpose sensor equipped with an accelerometer. If it detects a direct fall with significant speed and impact and does not sense the wearer getting back up within a short period, it will automatically send an alert to the lifeline monitoring centre. 

Other technology includes bed and chair sensors that are placed in the respective furniture and set to activate during a predetermined period. These sensors can alert as soon as they detect the person getting out of bed or chair, or after a set absence period ranging from two to 90 minutes. 

The Video Doorbell can be linked to Alexa, allowing you to talk to someone at the front door through a screen from the comfort of your armchair. 

Smart light bulbs can be installed in the bedroom, hallway, and bathroom to reduce the risk of falls during the night. These bulbs can be set to activate either on a timer or through voice commands.

Smart Light Bulb and Motion Sensors, when connected to a smart speaker, voice-activated light bulbs offer independence and reassurance. These lights can automatically turn on by integrating with motion sensors that detect movement.

GPS Tracking with Built-in Falls Detector helps individuals maintain their independence while out in the community features a built-in falls detector that notifies the family if a fall occurs.

Canary Kits are home monitoring kits that help family members and professionals monitor movements around the property day and night using sensors. 

Please contact the Assistive Technology team on 01633 644466 or  [email protected]