iStoppFalls · ICT based System to Predict & Prevent Falls

A demographic transformation is underway with a significant rise in the proportion of people aged 65 and older expected over the coming decades. It is therefore crucial to invest in research aimed at dealing with health challenges of an ageing population.Falls represent a major age-related health challenge facing our society, with about one third of older community-living people falling at least once a year. Falls in older people can markedly change one's health trajectory, have debilitating and isolating consequences and can trigger a downward spiral of disability which can lead to institutionalization and premature death. Falls and fractures account for over half of all injury-related health care costs and have a major impact not only on older people, but also their carers, health services and the community. This impact will grow substantially in the near future due to the increased proportion of older people in the population. The prevention of falls and mobility-related disability among older people is an urgent public health challenge in Europe and internationally.Despite robust evidence and availability of best-practice clinical guidelines to support interventions for preventing falls in older people, implementation of preventive measures remains low, mainly due to the accompanied high cost in both time and resources of the recommended individualized approach. Novel methods for delivery of quality healthcare are required to increase effectiveness of management while containing costs and using scarce human resources to maximum effect. Technology-based solutions have potential to reduce costs while maintaining individualized high quality healthcare. Fall prediction and prevention is a field of research where technology can be used to facilitate healthy ageing, well-being and independent living, but similar paradigms could potentially be used in other areas of geriatric medicine.The primary aim of the iStoppFalls project and its consortium partners is to develop and evaluate innovative home-based technologies to assist in preventing falls, and thus to improve quality of life of older adults living at home. iStoppFalls will develop unobtrusive technological solutions for continuous monitoring and prevention of fall risk factors that are required to coach people in tailored individualized prevention programs, including exercise and education. The emphasis is not on laboratory research but on active implementation of successful fall prevention strategies in people's own home.A coordinated, active and multidisciplinary team is central to this project to face challenges related to the development of these technology-based solutions. iStoppFalls will involve representatives of world-leading technology and research experts from both university and industry partners in Europe and Australia. The program will strengthen collaboration between research and technology which will contribute to European excellence and competitiveness and will produce new insights.