ORONO, Maine_ One in three Americans over age 65 will suffer a potentially serious fall this year, with an average hospitalization cost of $30 thousand dollars. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, older men and women are at increased risk of death due to falls with each decade of life that passes. But a new device under development in Maine hopes to alter those outcomes.
The device created by students in the University of Maine's New Media program seeks to mend shortcomings in the current technology. One problem, say the researchers, is that most current fall monitoring technology possesses limited sensory range, covering the approximately 55% of falls which occur inside the home.
But when a person leaves the house, monitoring ceases. "So 45% of falls are no longer getting that service." points out Ben Herold-Porter, a fifth year student at U Maine working on the device, along with senior Heather Anderson.
Additionally, current technology requires a person to press a button to call for help.
"Now, I don't know how you are in emergency situations, but I know if I fell down and possibly hurt myself, I might not remember to press that button." says Herold-Porter. Or a person may be lying unconscious. Traumatic Brain Injury is the leading cause of injury-related death among seniors.
The new device, which was tested on volunteer ice skaters, automatically senses when a person has taken a tumble, and uses mobile networks to dispatch aid. The device consists of a gyroscope to detect movement, a cell module, and a microcontroller to interpret sensor data, and is small enough to be worn on a lanyard around the neck.
But more work is needed to minimize false positives and make improvements before it's ready for market. Potential modifications include the addition of GPS, vital signs monitoring, and a step counter.
The team is seeking a Maine Technology Institute grant to further develop the technology which may have special import in what is often cited as the oldest state in the union; more than a quarter of Maine's population is expected to exceed age 65 by 2030.
