In France, falls are the leading cause of death among people aged over 65 (12,000 people in 2015). They affect more than two million people each year, and one in two people aged 80 and over.
Falls occur mainly at home, and more specifically, for almost half of them, in the bathroom. During a fall, the longer the time spent on the ground by the elderly person, the greater the risk of having serious consequences (injury, hospitalization, loss of autonomy, etc.).
Detecting falls as soon as they occur is therefore essential to allow a rapid reaction from those around you or the arrival of help. Many manual, electronic, computer or connected devices and systems exist on the market to warn of the fall of an elderly person at home or in their specialized establishment
This is the most classic assistance system in the event of a fall. Remote assistance takes the form of a button located on an object worn by the elderly person (bracelet, medallion, etc.). If she is the victim of a fall and is still conscious, she can press this button to call a dedicated emergency call center which will send help or notify relatives if it is unable to contact the person who has fallen. sounded the alarm.
So-called accelerometric fall sensors have the ability to detect shocks during a sudden acceleration movement or loss of verticality. That is to say that these sensors are activated only during heavy falls by the senior, when they cause a brutal shock, unlike "soft falls" which are more gentle. These sensors are most often worn by the elderly person concerned as a bracelet or medallion. These devices trigger their alarm one minute after the fall if the person does not get up and thus make it possible to contact a remote assistance center or relatives. These devices do not require the intervention of the fall victim. These are the cheapest fall detector systems on the market.
This smart bracelet detects falls on its own and launches an alert message. It is worn on the wrist by the elderly or as a pendant. If the bracelet detects a fall, it triggers an alert system on its own if the person does not move in the following seconds:it vibrates, a light flashes for a few seconds. Without movement, the connected bracelet sends an alert message to an assistance center.
The connected floor is mainly intended for healthcare establishments and accommodation for the elderly. It detects falls or abnormal behavior and then gives the alert. The connected floor works thanks to sensors placed under the covering. It can be installed in any room and it does not require an electrical connection. This sensor system is connected to a computer, tablet or smartphone managed by staff. Once a fall has been detected, staff are alerted by an alarm and initially have the option of establishing a video link with the senior concerned.
There are systems that work using sensors placed throughout the house and which detect the slightest abnormal behavior of the person present. Without movement for a few minutes, and depending on the lifestyles of the inhabitant, this device sends notifications via a smartphone to the entourage of the elderly person who can thus ensure that they have not fallen. .
The video-vigilance devices concern more the elderly people with loss of autonomy. They are more widespread in specialized establishments such as residential establishments for dependent elderly people (Ehpad), in particular to monitor residents at night. These surveillance systems are composed on the one hand of behavioral analysis software that detects all types of falls (fast or slow) and, on the other hand, of a video link. The latter is activated only when the video surveillance device has detected a fall or an abnormal movement.
With new technologies, many startups in particular are working on hyperconnected objects that will be able in the future to detect, and above all prevent, falls in the elderly. Thus, connected shoes are currently at the reflection stage. Equipped with sensors, they would be able to detect all abnormal movements of the feet of the person concerned and to alert in the event of a fall. In terms of preventing these accidents, light paths, already in use, particularly in establishments for the elderly, allow the person to navigate at night while avoiding obstacles and therefore reduce the risk of falling.
