Continuous assessment of the risk of falling using telecare

Abstract

The prevention of falls in the elderly could be based on risk assessment and the prediction of when an individual is likely to sustain an injury. A telecare system should allow the dynamic assessment of risk to be produced by a control centre computer, based on data transmitted from local sensors in the elderly person's home. A fall risk index could be calculated from mobility, activities of daily living and medication. However, substantial data-sets will be required before such fall risk indices attain statistical significance. As they are developed, fall prediction algorithms could be constantly reviewed and modified in order to reach the point where an acceptable level of accuracy is reached.