As of 2021, 7% of the population in Malaysia are above the age of 65. [1] Whereas the aging population in Singapore has come up to 15.2% [2], while Australia is seeing a striking number of 16%. [3] This group of elderly is the most vulnerable in terms of maintaining a good quality of life until the age of 80, which is the average lifespan for a male.
With an ever-increasing aging population, are we, as a nation, adequately prepared to care for our elderly?
As reported by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention, adults aged 65 and above who fall from an upright or seated position suffer more traumatic injuries because more energy is dissipated and impact on the hip and head is direct.
The motions that often lead to a chair fall were reaching for an object, moving/changing seating position, standing from a chair, and getting onto a chair. [4] Other intrinsic factors that cause chair fall include sensory disorders, the absence of an assistant provider, illness, dizziness, loss of balance, and medication. [5]
As of 2007, 493 Queensland residents died due to an unintentional fall, with 95% of them being over the age of 65. 15% of these falls alone were from household objects, such as chairs. [6] Between 2007 and 2016 the rate of death occurring from falls by older adults increased by 30%. At this rate, as many as 7 deaths every hour could occur by 2030. [7]
Measures to Prevent Chair Falls
This is where SmartPeep comes into the picture. SmartPeep utilizes vision AI technology to implement CCTV into nursing homes to flatten the curve against chair falls and accidents. How do we do it? This intelligent AI assistant monitors seniors 24/7 to alert caregivers instantly when risky behaviours are detected.
So, how exactly does SmartPeep’s fall prevention AI work?
1. It monitors the elderly at all times.
SmartPeep’s AI technology works with your CCTV to monitor the activities and motions of seniors, then gauges each motion to determine whether seniors with a high-fall rate show signs of them getting up from their chairs. If that is detected, the nursing home’s caregivers will be alerted, allowing them to provide immediate aid to these seniors.
2. It acts as the eyes of many caregivers.
Unlike the standard human caregiver, SmartPeep’s AI technology doesn’t fall weary from exhaustion and fails to get distracted. Thus, it can monitor many elderlies at once, ensuring their families and nursing homes a peace of mind. Staff will discover newfound time to provide better care for the residents too, as opposed to having to constantly keep an eye out for residents that are out of sight!
3. It decreases costs and ensures a better quality of life.
With SmartPeep, nursing homes will be able to forego expensive additional manpower and operating costs, and instead, rely solely on SmartPeep's AI technology to keep a lookout for the risk of falling.
What’s more? This would also enable better quality care for senior citizens! It has recently been reported that the many nursing homes that have implemented SmartPeep’s AI technology in their business have seen a 72% decrease in total in falls and over 1800 assisted risky cases!
The AI system is currently available for nursing homes and hospitals in Malaysia, Singapore, and Australia to install securely and conveniently. Looking to find out more? Learn more via our Chair Fall Prevention product page.
References:
- Malaysia's fast ageing population: Are we ready to handle the consequences? The Star. Retrieved on 5 July 2020.
- Singapore records slowest decade of population growth since independence. Reuters. Retrieved on 5 July 2020.
- Health of older people. Australia Institute of Health and Welfare. Retrieved on 5 July 2020.
- Falls in the sitting position―Characteristics and efficacy of preventive measures. Japanese Journal of Comprehensive Rehabilitation Science (2015). Retrieved on 5 July 2020.
- High risk groups for falls. MyHealth Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia. Retrieved on 5 July 2020.
- Falls statistics - Stay On Your Feet. Queesland Government. Retrieved on 5 July 2020.
- Important Facts about Falls. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention. Retrieved on 5 July 2020.