Fall and injury prevention in older adults to position Schlegel Villages asSafety Innovators

As a result of the baby boomer generation, an increasing proportion of Canadas population is now comprised of older adults / senior citizens. Increased numbers of these older adults are living in private Retirement Homes, and these consumers are emphasizing resident safety programs/policies when deciding between facilities. Towards providing state-of-the-science care for their residents, the industry partner (Schlegel Villages Inc.) wants to lead the marketplace as a Safety Innovator through programs to prevent falls (and fall-related injuries). Accordingly, the goal of this research is to improve our understanding of falls (where and why they occur), and to use this information to development/implement approaches to reduce the risk of falls (and associated injuries) within Schlegel Villages Retirement Homes. The research will focus on three novel technologies including: i) safety flooring, ii) virtual reality, and ii) wireless balance monitoring systems.

Faculty Supervisor:

Andrew Laing

Student:

Taylor Cleworth

Partner:

Schlegel Villages Inc

Discipline:

Kinesiology

Sector:

Medical devices

University:

Program: