Using AI-Driven Wearable Fall Prevention to Improve Nursing Home Safety

Every 11 seconds of every day, an older adult (65+) in the United States experiences a fall – making it the leading cause of injury and injury-related death among this population. Experts anticipate that the incidence of falls and associated injuries will double to over 10 million annually as our elderly population reaches more than 1.5 billion worldwide.

For decades, falls have been considered an inevitable consequence of aging. At OK2StandUP, we believe that seniors and caregivers deserve better. In 2021, our team of engineers and artificial intelligence architects set out to change the narrative around falls, developing a revolutionary solution to proactively mitigate and prevent falls in care settings.

In this guide, we’ll provide detailed information about how AI-based wearable fall prevention technology, OK2StandUP, can improve nursing home safety, reduce healthcare costs, and revolutionize care for our aging population.

Current Challenges with Fall Prevention in Nursing Care

The current challenges with fall prevention in long-term care settings are multifaceted and present significant hurdles for care providers. Despite advancements in healthcare technology and evidence-based fall prevention interventions, fall rates in nursing homes have not improved. In the past five years alone, the incidence of falls with injuries among nursing home residents has increased by nearly 25%.

These challenges extend beyond the immediate impact of falls, affecting various aspects of nursing home operations. Falls are costly and often result in significant healthcare costs, including emergency room visits, rehabilitation, and potential legal liabilities. Additionally, falls often compromise an individual’s functional abilities and independence, affecting their overall well-being and resource allocation within the facility.

Historic staffing shortages, brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, continue to exacerbate the challenge of effective fall prevention by limiting the availability of personnel for proactive monitoring and intervention. The current staffing crisis and the complex healthcare needs of aging residents create a demanding work environment for caregivers, often stretching resources thin and hindering their capacity to provide optimal care.

It is clear that addressing these challenges requires a multidisciplinary approach different from the current status quo. By leveraging cutting-edge technology like OK2StandUP, nursing homes can not only enhance safety measures but also streamline workflows, optimize resource allocation, and ultimately improve health outcomes for residents.

OK2StandUP Insights into High Fall Incidents in Nursing Homes

To better understand the challenge of fall prevention in long-term care settings, the engineering team of OK2StandUP spent a combined total of 230 nights living in nursing homes to refine and build a product that no other technology company could match.

By observing the workflow, staff sentiment, and daily activities of patients, our team gained a unique understanding of the daily challenges faced by skilled nursing, long-term care, and memory care communities.

Our research findings showed that a specific subset of residents, roughly 10 - 20% of the total patient population, reported the most falls. These “frequent fallers” often shared common fall risk factors, including:

• Cognitive decline or confusion
• Balance or mobility impairments that required wheelchair use
• A history of 2+ fall incidents per month for three consecutive months

In each community we observed, the combination of high fall rates and staff shortages created a stressful work environment for caregivers. Quantitatively, we found that each fall incident required an additional 6 - 10 hours of administrative effort and care consisting of:

• Increased patient monitoring for 72 hours post-fall
• Checking vital signs and conducting relevant tests, depending on the severity of the fall
• Documenting the initial incident, along with changes in symptoms and treatments during the post-fall monitoring period

This immersive research effort indicated that despite having similar protocols for fall management – such as daily huddles, personalized intervention plans, and strict post-fall care compliance – there was a consistent underlying issue: care workers lacked actionable insights to prevent falls proactively.

Having identified the pressing need for proactive fall prevention solutions, our team created OK2StandUP, the first artificial intelligence fall prevention solution for older adults and caregivers.

Meet OK2StandUP: Remote Monitoring Driven by AI

OK2StandUP is an innovative fall prevention device designed to proactively mitigate falls, reduce healthcare costs, and improve health outcomes for millions of adults worldwide. Through rigorous research and development, OK2StandUP has emerged as a beacon of innovation in the field of eldercare, offering a transformative solution to this pressing health crisis.

“Helping older adults age gracefully and professionals work more efficiently was not what I had envisioned during my doctoral studies in mechanical engineering. It all began several years ago with a simple engineering question to solve a complex health problem: “Can falls among older adults be avoided with a sensor?” We spun out of the University of Pittsburgh to answer this question. We at OK2StandUP, INC have been thinking, researching, and developing a solution to address this problem. The answer is a firm "Yes!”. Our company is proud to offer OK2StandUP, a solution that works for older adults, their families, and care organizations.”

• Founder and CEO Eunice Yang, PhD

How It Works

OK2StandUP is a discreet, wearable monitor that seamlessly integrates into existing workflows to help organizations prioritize the care of older adults by alerting caregivers to a resident’s intentions to stand up. Here’s how it works:

Measure Activity

A medical-grade adhesive is placed on the back of the activity monitor and worn on the patient's chest. Unlike other wearable devices that monitor movement intermittently, OK2StandUP monitors the patient’s physical movements every second for enhanced accuracy and reliability. The monitor sends the data via Bluetooth to the wearer and caregiver's smart device. The AI program evaluates and analyzes the data every second to allow for highly accurate predictions.

Predict Issues

The predictive capabilities of the program are the cornerstone of OK2StandUP. The device leverages machine learning models to accurately predict the wearer's intentions of transitioning from lying down to standing. Unlike conventional fall detection devices or bed alarms that often trigger false positives for simple movements like stirring or shifting in bed, the AI-powered monitor is highly sensitive and 95% accurate in predicting if a patient is likely to stand up.

This predictive aspect allows caregivers to stay informed of residents with the highest risk of falling, enabling them to intervene when necessary. The system also shows historic activity levels at a glance. Caregivers can compare current activity data with historical patterns to help identify trends that may indicate an increased risk of falling.

Receive Alerts

When OK2StandUP detects an adult is about to get up, it immediately alerts designated caregivers. The system transmits alerts via a simple, easy-to-use mobile app. These timely alerts ensure caregivers are informed about the situation in real-time, enabling a more proactive response.

OK2StandUP empowers caregivers and healthcare providers to make informed decisions and provide more personalized care through actionable insights and predictions. This comprehensive approach enhances operational efficiencies and care delivery while enhancing patients' quality of life throughout their care journey.

The Future of OK2StandUP and AI-Driven Healthcare

In the coming years, the OK2StandUP program will have amassed a tremendously large data set from seniors who are at the highest risk for falls. Currently, we are collecting continuous electrocardiogram data and tracking physical activity trends. Combined, this data set will be used not only to mitigate falls but also to predict precursors to other factors that affect patient health outcomes, such as reduction in physical activity, reduction in toileting, activities of daily living, and associated health decline.

Our innovative AI-driven model strategically aligns with the rapidly evolving healthcare landscape, where technology solutions are pivotal in delivering more accessible, cost-effective care. With more virtual care solutions like OK2StandUP, we can begin to shape a world where care is dispensed immediately to patients – without a doctor’s visit or face-to-face consultation. Instead, AI-powered tools like non-contact sensors, video monitoring, and wearables will seamlessly transmit vital information to healthcare teams for more efficient intervention. This shift to AI-driven clinical decision support isn’t solely about convenience; it’s about guaranteeing quality healthcare for everyone. With healthcare costs reaching unsustainable levels, integrating AI offers a pragmatic solution to improving healthcare efficiency and outcomes on a global scale.

Try OK2StandUP for Free

Discover the effectiveness of OK2StandUP with our complimentary 30-day trial. You’ll receive one device to use on your most fall-prone patient, along with setup assistance and guidance from OK2StandUP Founder and CEO Dr. Eunice Yang. Throughout the trial, Dr. Yang will participate in your organization's daily safety meetings and provide key insights to improve patient health outcomes. Try OK2StandUP risk-free and experience the difference it can make in preventing falls in your facility.

OK2StandUP Trial Results

In recent trials conducted with 44 participants across five care organizations, OK2StandUP demonstrated its ability to significantly enhance nursing homes' fall prevention efforts. The trial, conducted in collaboration with the Presbyterian SeniorCare Network (PSCN) and Homewood Retirement Centers in Pennsylvania, provided valuable insights into the effectiveness of our technology in real-world settings.

After 4,500 hours of remote patient monitoring of 44 frail seniors in six of the network’s skilled nursing facilities, OK2StandUP proved its effectiveness:

• 95% accuracy of AI-driven notifications
• 85% of notifications resulted in successful interventions
• Zero fall incidents

For firsthand accounts of OK2StandUP’s impact, watch our video featuring testimonials from PSCN caregivers and administrators.

Frequently Asked Questions

Interested in learning more about the intricacies of OK2StandUP’s technology? Explore our FAQs section below for answers to common questions about the device and its functionalities:

1. Does OK2StandUp prevent falls among residents? No. OK2StandUP is a tool for care staff to reach residents before it is too late. The actions of the staff prevent the falls.
2. How accurate are OK2StandUp’s alerts? OK2StandUP is 95% accurate in knowing if and when the older adult has low, medium, and high physical activity levels. This accuracy is based upon 150,000 predictions of activity levels over a 14-night period among five (5) older adults. Low, Medium, and High levels indicate the chance of falling:
   1. A patient lying in bed or reclined in a chair is considered Low
   2. A patient sitting in a position that may cause them to lose balance and fall will show Medium or High levels
   3. Patients standing up or on the move are considered High
3. How do I start monitoring an older adult? Here is a quick video on how you can begin monitoring an older adult.
4. How often are notifications sent? The program sends notifications once. We have found that sending multiple notifications results in alarm fatigue. Caregivers will only receive one notification each time a resident tries to get up.
5. Is it costly to implement? Initial implementation costs for OK2StandUP are significantly lower than other fall prevention technologies, primarily due to our streamlined approach to equipment and user experience:
   1. The system does not require mounting specialized equipment onto walls or ceilings, unlike most video monitoring systems
   2. There is no requirement for special hardware or software programming as the device is compatible with readily available smart devices like Android and iOS devices.
6. How long does the health monitor last? The wearable monitor is reusable, rechargeable, and water-resistant for up to 1 year.

For more frequently asked questions, please visit our FAQs page.

Smart Investments, Smarter Outcomes with OK2StandUP

Investing in OK2StandUP isn’t just an investment in fall prevention– it’s an investment in your facility's financial health and success. By proactively preventing falls, OK2StandUP optimizes operational efficiencies and reduces costs associated with fall-related incidents.

• Medical Care: by proactively preventing falls and related injuries, OK2StandUP helps nursing homes avoid costs associated with hospitalization, treatment, and rehabilitation.
• Insurance & Legal: facilities that demonstrate effective risk management strategies are more likely to qualify for lower insurance premiums and experience fewer legal liabilities.
• Staffing Turnover: improved working conditions and reduced stress levels can lead to higher staff satisfaction and lower turnover rates. As a result, facilities save on recruiting, onboarding, and training costs.

In conclusion, investing in OK2StandUP technology not only enhances the safety and well-being of residents but also creates a healthy financial bottom line. By mitigating falls, our innovative solution enables nursing homes to allocate resources more efficiently, reduce fall-related costs, and cultivate a positive and safe environment for both residents and staff.

Take the first step towards better fall prevention in your network with a risk-free 30-day trial of OK2StandUP’s revolutionary technology.