The top cause of death for people over the age of 65 is not heart attack, cancer, diabetes or a stroke. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the top cause of death among seniors is falling.
One out of every three seniors over the age of 65 falls every year. However, fewer than half actually tell their healthcare providers. In 2010, the medical cost for falls in the U.S. was $30.4 billion.
Twenty to 30 percent of falls result in moderate to serious injuries for the elderly. These injuries can range from lacerations to hip fractures and traumatic brain injury. In fact, traumatic brain injury accounts for 46 percent of deaths from falls.
Many adults caring for their elderly family members want to be sure that their loved ones are safe. At the same time, seniors don’t want to give up their well-deserved independence. AT&T’s mPERS device, which it showcased at HIMSS13 last week, may give seniors and their family members the compromise that they need.
For example, an elderly person may experience a fall at home and find him or herself unable to stand up. A sensor on the mPERS device would alert a 24-7 call monitoring center, and an agent from the center would utilize two-way wireless voice communication to try to reach the injured senior.
If the senior didn’t respond verbally or if assistance was needed, then the agent would dispatch emergency services. Loved ones can also receive notification if a senior experiences an injury or fall.
AT&T plans to target adult daycare providers, senior centers, nursing homes and other providers of home care to get its device in the hands of seniors. “It will transform the whole emergency response experience, by keeping everyone connected, informed and engaged in near real time,” said Dr. Geeta Nayyar, who is AT&T Health’s chief medical officer.
“I can't think of a better answer for an active, but aging, baby boomer population.”
Edited by
Brooke Neuman
