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.