Fall Prevention in Senior Living: A Holistic Approach

The Impact

Over one in four older adults fall each year, leading to 36,000 deaths, three million emergency department visits, and one million hospital stays in America alone.1

Many people who fall, even if they’re not injured, become afraid of falling. This fear may cause a person to cut down on their everyday activities. When a person is less active, they become weaker, increasing their chances of falling. If they have fallen before, their chance of falling again doubles.2

So, not only does falling cause injury, fatalities, and high medical costs, it impacts all areas of wellbeing. It is essential for senior living communities to take steps to prevent falls and protect their residents.

A senior man is sitting in bed and smiling at a caregiver, who is smiling back and helping him up.

Prevent

Prevention is possible. The best approach is holistic: combining strategies that address the environmental, behavioral, and biological risks. These can include safety features like automatic lighting and handrails, exercise programs to improve physical strength, and addressing medical and physical health.

 

Step One: Assess

The first step is assessing and addressing the risk factors unique to each resident. One way to do this is to use a risk survey. For example, this online quiz from the National Council On Aging quickly and clearly outlines whether an individual is high or low risk, allowing communities to identify individuals who need further support.

 

Step Two: Environmental

Next, address the physical environment to remove risks and provide support systems. Clear living areas of hazards and ensure safety equipment such as railings, grab bars, and slip-resistant surfaces are installed. Make sure there is adequate lighting in living spaces and community areas. Automatic lighting solutions can sense when a resident is active and turn the lights on to provide immediate visibility.

 

Step Three: Behavioral

One of the most impactful fall prevention strategies is to build strength and balance. Provide an exercise program with a focus on fall prevention. When residents maintain and grow their mobility, they are less likely to fall. Take a look at the CDC’s “Guide to Implementing Effective Community-Based Fall Prevention Programs” to learn more about how to implement one of these programs.

 

Step Four: Biological

Finally, check residents for vision, foot, and overall health. Ensure that eye prescriptions are up to date so that a resident can clearly see their surroundings and navigate spaces. With age also often comes loss of feeling in feet, which can contribute to the danger of falling. Ensure residents are wearing proper footwear to support.

Medications and Vitamin D intake can affect fall risk as well. Some medicines or medicine combinations can cause drowsiness, dizziness, and increased fall risk. On the other hand, taking Vitamin D supplements has been shown to decrease falls by 38%.3 Encourage residents to talk to their physician about medication effects and to consider taking Vitamin D supplements.

A caregiver holds and guides a senior's wrist as the senior uses a walker.

Protect

Prevention efforts are essential to reduce the number of falls that residents experience. However, it is even more crucial to have a safety net in place for residents who do fall.

Many older adults are unable to get back up after a fall, whether from an injury or a lack of mobility. This can result in a “long lie”, when a person is left on the ground for an hour or more after a fall. These long lies can cause increased injuries, fatalities, and psychological damage.

The first step to address this danger is to once again to identify high-risk residents. When you are aware of who is at risk, you can then equip them with strategies to protect and safeguard against the worst case scenarios.

Educate residents on how to get back up after a fall in cases when they are uninjured. The AARP has provided a guide of step-by-step techniques that can help seniors navigate the aftermath of a fall safely.

Then, invest in fall detection technology. This ensures that falls will not go unnoticed. Instead, caregivers will be immediately alerted in the event of a fall and can respond right away. Not only can this prevent long lies and all the damage associated with them, but they can also catch the falls that go unreported, which can help to identify residents that may be at risk of a worse fall in the future.

 

Fall Detection

The QUANTUM™ Fall Detection solution consists of pendants that tie into a nurse call system. When the pendant senses that its wearer has fallen, it sends a special alert to caregivers, making sure help is on the way.

Other solutions may use sensors or cameras to detect falls. While this can prove effective, many residents are uncomfortable with a camera in their homes, and prefer to protect their privacy. In addition to this, a camera is only able to catch falls within its view. With the fall detection pendant, a resident can continue living independently throughout their community and stay protected in every room they enter.

Facilities are encouraged to explore their options and find technology that best supports their residents. Learn more about the QUANTUM™ solution here.

A study looked at the effects of fall detection on a resident’s fear of falling and found that they reported feeling more confident, independent, and safer. So not only does this technology protect residents in the worst case scenario, it also helps high-risk seniors to maintain their lifestyles and enjoy their communities without fear.

If you would like to incorporate Fall Detection into your community, now is the time! JNL is currently offering a special deal that includes ten fall detection pendants, so you can protect your most at-risk residents and see the impact for yourself. This deal will be available until Dec. 15, 2025.

1 CDC. “Facts about Falls.” Older Adult Fall Prevention, 9 May 2024, ww.cdc.gov/falls/data-research/facts-stats/?CDC_AAref_Val=www.cdc.gov/falls/facts.html.

2 Bloch, Frédéric. “Critical Falls: Why Remaining on the Ground after a Fall Can Be Dangerous, Whatever the Fall.” Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, vol. 60, no. 7, July 2012, pp. 1375–1376, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1532-5415.2012.04017.x.

3 Gallagher, et al. “Active Vitamin D (Calcitriol) as a Falls Intervention.” 2007.

 

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What is a “Long Lie”? Discover The Risk That Threatens Older Adults And How To Prevent It

A man lies on the ground with his head in his hand.

The leading cause of death from injury: falls.1

Not only that, but if a senior falls and is unable to get back up for a long period of time, their risk of death doubles.2

Lying on the ground for an extended period of time after a fall is called a “long lie”. One study found that 15% of falls resulted in the person lying on the ground for an hour or longer.3 These long lies can cause serious damage, including dehydration, infections, pressure sores, sepsis, and more.4

In addition to this, the psychological effects can be profound and long-lasting.

Just imagine what it must be like to lie on the floor after a fall, unable to get help.

For many seniors, this results in a fear of falling that can have the opposite effect – causing them to self-isolate, limit their mobility, and thereby increase their fall risk.5

Preventing falls is the first step to take in order to address these issues. Many falls are preventable with proper safety measures. But for the falls that do happen, it is critical for seniors to get help right away.

Facilities often have help buttons and pull cords installed in order to alert caregivers. While this is an essential safety measure, some older adults do not use them when they have the chance. One study showed that 97% of those who experienced a long lie did not activate their call alarm system.3

That is where fall detection comes in.

Technological advancements have made it possible to detect falls right when they happen, alerting caregivers and getting seniors back on their feet.

A good fall detection device needs to strike a balance: too sensitive, and it will release a flurry of false alarms, overwhelming caregivers and causing them to lose trust in the system. If it’s not sensitive enough, it may miss a critical fall.

To address this, the QUANTUM™ Fall Detection pendant is designed with a 30-second verification period, minimizing false alarms while still catching the real ones. The pendant also has a standard help button, so seniors can call for help in addition to the automatic alert.

Together with easy-to-use nurse call software, the QUANTUM™ system ensures that senior living communities have the tools they need to improve safety and reduce risks.

This fall, JNL Technologies, Inc. is offering a promotion on the QUANTUM™ Fall Detection solution. Included are ten Fall Detection pendants, so senior living facilities can protect their most vulnerable residents and see for themselves the impact of fall detection. Discover the solution that provides peace of mind – now at an even more accessible price.

 

 

Some features may be contingent on licensing or subscription. QUANTUM™ systems may require a server upgrade to support new functionality. Residents should be instructed to always push the activation button on their call button to request assistance when they are able to do so, even if fall detection is enabled. The automatic fall detection feature is an enhancement to basic functionality and does not detect 100% of falls.

 

[1] “WISQARS Fatal and Nonfatal Injury Infographics.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, wisqars.cdc.gov/infographics/

[2] Bloch, Frédéric. “Critical Falls: Why Remaining on the Ground after a Fall Can Be Dangerous, Whatever the Fall.” Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, vol. 60, no. 7, July 2012, pp. 1375–1376, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1532-5415.2012.04017.x.

[3] Fleming, Jane, and Carol Brayne. “Inability to Get up after Falling, Subsequent Time on Floor, and Summoning Help: Prospective Cohort Study in People over 90.” The BMJ, vol. 337, no. 7681, 17 Nov. 2008, https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.a2227

[4] Kubitza, Jenny, et al. “Concept of the Term Long Lie: A Scoping Review.” European Review of Aging and Physical Activity, vol. 20, no. 1, 29 Aug. 2023, https://doi.org/10.1186/s11556-023-00326-3.

[5] World Health Organization. WHo Global Report on Falls Prevention in Older Age. 2007.

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Connect with JNL at the LeadingAge Annual Meeting!

Text reads: LeadingAge Annual Meeting, JNL Booth 515. Image of products and symbols representing solutions: nurse call, wander management, fall detection, access control, and advanced location.

Watch QUANTUM™ come to life at the LeadingAge Annual Meeting, this year in Boston, MA from November 2 – 5.

 

Connect with JNL Technologies, Inc. experts, experience live demos, and discover the all-in-one safety and security solution that creates ripples of impact within senior living. From nurse call to wander management, QUANTUM™ technology offers a reliable, easy-to-use system with next-level features including fall detection, advanced location, and powerful analytics insights.

 

Plus, this year’s show grants the perfect opportunity to connect to the limited time Fall Into Fall promotion! With autumn leaves falling, we are offering a sale on the fall detection package for all communities – including new and existing customers – to experience the peace of mind that QUANTUM™ brings. Talk with the team at LeadingAge to learn more!

 

Where to find us:

Booth 515 – right across from the CHEERS Bar! Grab a drink and enjoy a chat with our team.

When to visit the booth:

Here’s a snippet of the schedule!

 

Monday, Nov. 3

Morning: education sessions, networking, and talk from keynote speaker Chef José Andrés

11:30 – 3 PM: Experience Expo – this is when you’ll meet us!

Afternoon: education sessions & networking

 

Tuesday, Nov. 4

Morning: education sessions, networking, and talk from keynote speaker David Brooks

11:30 – 3 PM: Experience Expo – another chance to talk with JNL!

Afternoon: education sessions & networking

How to register:

Sign up through the LeadingAge event site. We’ll make it easy for you – this link takes you straight to it!

We can’t wait to be part of this incredible event! Join us in Boston and be inspired by a one-of-a-kind conference experience for senior living.

 

See you there!

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Fall Into Fall! Get QUANTUM™ Fall Detection

Two smiling women lying in a bed of fall leaves, with their hands up in celebration.

September brings cool breezes, bright leaves, and fall – detection!

Starting Sept. 15, we’re excited to announce the limited time Fall Into Fall promotion for our customers: saving costs while saving lives. Get a Fall Detection package for a reduced price and discover its impact on senior living residents’ health, safety, and peace of mind.

What Is Fall Detection?

The QUANTUM™ Fall Detection solution utilizes special pendants that can sense when a resident has fallen, even if they are unable to press the pendant’s call button. With an instant alert delivered to caregivers, residents can receive help quickly, reducing the risks, costs, and long-term effects of a fall.

What Is the Fall Into Fall Promotion?

The Fall Into Fall Promotion is a special deal for ten Fall Detection pendants alongside the network gateway and one year of the annual Fall Detection subscription. With this package, facilities can distribute the pendants to residents who are most at risk of falls and discover the impact.

Whether a facility already has a QUANTUM™ system or would like to get one, this package is a great way to kick off the journey towards a safer community. 

How Can I Get The Promotion?

Existing QUANTUM™ customers are encouraged to work with their local distributor or sales contact to get all the details and secure the promotion.

Interested in QUANTUM™ as a new buyer? Discover how your system can be integrated or upgraded to QUANTUM™ alongside this special promotional package by scheduling a call with our team today.

The promotion is available from September 15 – December 15, 2025.

Secure better outcomes for your residents today with QUANTUM™ Fall Detection!

Requirements

In order to ensure proper operation of the solution, some system requirements apply. To qualify, customers must have the following:
QUANTUM™ Server V10 or newer
QUANTUM™ System Monitor
Inovonics Network Coordinator
Inovonics Repeaters with acceptable coverage
Software Assurance Plan 

Additional requirements: Order must be placed within dates of the promotion, September 15 – December 15, 2025. Subscription must be activated by February 1, 2026. The promotional package cannot be used with any other program or discount. No modifications can be made to the promotional package. The invoice must be paid in 30 days from the invoice date. Past due invoices revert to standard pricing. JNL reserves the right to terminate or modify the promotion without advance notice.

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Live Webinar: Learn the Real Risk of Falls

Image of a senior after a fall with a cane and a pair of glasses.

Falls hit hard for seniors.

With aging often comes decreased mobility, unsteady balance, and weaker muscles, resulting in both a higher likelihood of falling and more severe ramifications. According to a study in The New England Journal of Medicine, 24% of falls among older adults in senior communities resulted in serious injury and 6% resulted in fractures.¹

For senior living communities that seek to provide a safe, engaging environment, it is crucial to understand the risks of falls and learn how to address them.

The impacts of a fall go far beyond physical – decreasing senior’s emotional wellbeing, sense of safety, and their ability to interact with the world around them. Not only that, but the community at large is affected by raising healthcare costs, higher care needs, and reduced engagement.

At JNL Technologies, Inc., we work to make seniors safer. That is why we are launching a webinar designed to educate senior living communities on how to prevent falls, reduce risks, and promote safety and health for residents.

With real data and action items, attendees will walk away equipped for better care.

Agenda

  • Introduction
  • Uncover Fall Risks: Before, During, and After
  • Fall Prevention Strategies
  • Reducing Risk After A Fall
  • Benefits of Fall Detection
  • Resources for Communities

About Us

With over 30 years of first-hand experience in the senior living industry, JNL Technologies, Inc. created the QUANTUM™ Senior Safety and Security system to raise the standard of technology in senior homes. JNL is always seeking new ways to support communities, improve operations, and protect seniors across the nation.

 

¹ Tinetti, M E et al. “Risk factors for falls among elderly persons living in the community.” The New England journal of medicine vol. 319,26 (1988): 1701-7. doi:10.1056/NEJM198812293192604

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