Zensi – the smart sensor healthcare system – was developed in close cooperation with a Belgian nursing home group.
During the course of the project we needed to learn as much as possible about why people in care facilities are falling. In doing so we were able to objectively identify what the main points of attention should be when aiming to minimize falling frequency and severity. In light of this we received the falling data of the nursing home group that helped us to develop Zensi, by and for professional caregivers.
The data covers 2 years of observation across 12 nursing homes and includes a total of 2.946 patients (1.815 of which fell at least once), resulting in 8.911 falling incidents.
One of the key elements in falling prevention is to focus on residents with the highest risk of falling. As such it is important to recognise that those who are at risk tend to have their first fall very soon upon entry into the nursing home.
Of those who fall, 24% fall within their 1st week, 48% in the 1st month. 63% have fallen by the 2nd month and 74% fall within their first 4 months. Only 6% of those who fall do so for the 1st time after 1 year or more.
To optimise falling prevention procedures it is therefore of the utmost importance to closely monitor new residents during their first few months.
In doing so, a significant proportion of falls may be prevented (thereby reducing risks of subsequent falls if residents are not weakened thanks to avoiding the first fall) and the highest risk patients can easily be identified for more focused follow-up throughout their stay.
You can download the full fall data analysis here.