Choosing the Right Technology for Falls Detection in Care Homes
With an ageing population and rising demand for high-quality care, technology is playing an increasingly critical role in improving how falls are detected in care homes. Advancements in remote monitoring, AI-driven analytics, and real-time alerts provide more options than ever before. However, not all technologies offer the same level of effectiveness, ease of use, or cost efficiency, making the selection process challenging.
To make an informed decision, care homes must evaluate key features such as real-time alerts, privacy-first monitoring and seamless integration. In this guide, we explore how to identify the best falls detection technology to enhance safety and optimise resources.
Essential features of advanced falls detection technology
When evaluating technology for falls detection and risk prevention, consider solutions that offer some, or all of the following features:
1. Real-time alerts and remote monitoring
Immediate alerts when a fall occurs allow for a faster response, reducing risks and minimising harm. Lilli’s Falls Detection provides real-time notifications, enabling care teams to act instantly. It also reduces the need for time-consuming and disruptive night-time checks, improving both efficiency and resident comfort.
2. Non-Intrusive, Privacy-First Monitoring
Privacy concerns are a key barrier to adopting falls detection technology. Unlike cameras, microphones, or wearables, Lilli’s mmWave radar-based sensors provide discreet, 24/7 monitoring in bedrooms and bathrooms, maintaining privacy while ensuring resident safety.
3. Proactive, not just reactive monitoring
Traditional falls detection systems only notify care teams after a fall has occurred. While this is valuable, Lilli’s Falls Detection also tracks key factors such as heart rate and breathing rate, providing deeper insights into potential fall risks and the circumstances surrounding an incident.
Evaluating cost and return on investment with falls detection technology
The financial impact of falls cannot be denied, costing care homes over £150,000 annually and the NHS over £2 billion per year. The right technology should be able to provide measurable cost savings through a number of measures.
- Optimising staff time - care homes spend 13,000 hours per year on falls-related checks. Remote monitoring reduces unnecessary nighttime checks, allowing staff to focus on direct care and personalised support, improving efficiency without increasing headcount
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- Retaining residents & increasing family trust - a fall leading to hospitalisation sometimes results in permanent loss of a resident, affecting both occupancy rates and revenue. Families feel more confident choosing and staying with a care home that provides real-time monitoring and immediate response to falls.
- Improving care outcomes and efficiency – a 2023 study found that falls prevention technology resulted in a cost reduction of £113 per resident, demonstrating clear financial benefits. By providing instant alerts and valuable health insights, care teams can respond faster and improve resident outcomes, increasing length of stay and continuity of care.
- Reducing hospital visits - falls that go undetected or result in a long-lie can increase the likelihood of hospitalisation and readmission. While this impacts the wider health system, for private pay care homes, the real impact is the distress to families and the potential loss of a resident. Falls detection technology helps prevent avoidable hospitalisations, maintaining stability for both residents and care teams. Studies show that remote monitoring can decrease hospital readmissions by 28% and reduce emergency department visits by 11%.
Ease of use and staff adoption
Falls detection technology should be easy to use, requiring minimal training. Solutions like Lilli offer hands-free sensors, an intuitive dashboard and real-time notifications, ensuring seamless staff adoption without disrupting workflows.
CQC compliance and improvement of rating
Falls Detection solutions should comply with Care Quality Commission (CQC) standards and help care homes demonstrate proactive care and compliance. Lilli’s Falls Detection provides clear data insights that support regulatory requirements and quality assessments.
Ensuring the Technology is Non-Intrusive and User-Friendly
A common concern with new technology is whether it’s intrusive. The best Falls Detection solutions should be discreet, easy to use, and non-invasive, such as:
- Monitoring technology that does not require wearables
- Privacy-first devices that operate without cameras or microphones
- Intuitive dashboards and reporting tools that enable carers and teams to make more informed decisions
Choosing the right fall detection technology is about more than just compliance—it’s about enhancing resident safety, improving efficiency and providing families with greater peace of mind.
Lilli’s Falls Detection technology delivers real-time alerts and valuable data insights, helping care homes respond faster, reduce risks and improve care quality.
To explore how Lilli’s Falls Detection can enhance safety in your care home, book a call today.