2026, what kind of year is it going to be?

Well the holidays are over and we all had a great time together. The only blemish on the scene was mom’s health. She took a pretty bad fall and ended up spending a lot of time in the hospital recovering. I am now at a point where I am spending my time caring for her at her apartment. Obviously I can’t continue doing this kind of support and will need to find alternate care options.

I want to reflect a little bit on the fall risk. I am taking this experience seriously and recognize that I too will probably need support as I age. Many elderly become fall risks and with my recent experience, now I realize it’s important to be ahead of the curve. Falling is bad but falling and not being able to get up off the floor is frightening. Communication is critical. I didn’t realize there was a problem with mom until nearly 18 hours after the fall occurred. Had a communication link be in place mom could have called for help immediately. Instead nobody knew there was a problem. The solution to this communication gap comes in a variety of products.

1. In home intercom and wearable device. This solution is great for a family that lives together. Should a fall occur the wearable device is able to connect to intercom stations through out the house. A care giver can immediately respond after the device is triggered. Some of these products come integrated with video cameras so the care giver can view the scene.
2. Monitored fall monitors. This type of solution is the premiere offering that couples a wearable device with a staffed monitoring center who responds to an SOS call and ensures notification of first responders and family. These often have monthly fees associated with the service and often the devices are more sophisticated and aesthetically pleasing.
3. Direct notification fall monitors. These are also wearable devices that are self configured with a call tree. When the SOS button is pressed, the device notifies 911 and/or other caregivers. There is not a 3rd party command center involved but the communication logic ensure someone responds otherwise it keeps trying to send notifications. Some of these devices have automatic fall notices while others require the SOS button to be pressed. This service can also carry a monthly subscription which usually covers the wireless cellular signal that enables two way communication.

There are even more sophisticated products on the market, like radar sensors, but generally they fall into the three categories above. One thing to mention is that not all the products I’ve researched are waterproof. I think that is a critical feature as bathing is a risky act for many seniors. The device must be worn at all times to be effective. Battery life is another key feature. You’ll want something that charges quickly and lasts for several days.

Monitoring is only 1 element of the mitigation of fall risks. Next I’ll post about mobility aids.