How the Right Falls Detection Technology Delivers Significant Cost Savings
Falls in care homes not only pose a serious health risk to residents but also create a major financial burden, leading to higher staff workloads, operational inefficiencies and even potential loss of residents.
Each fall costs care homes an estimated £2,600 per resident. Without immediate detection and response, residents may require hospitalisation, long-term rehabilitation, or even leave the home permanently, affecting occupancy levels and revenue. Investing in advanced Falls Detection technology helps care providers detect incidents faster, prevent long-lie risks and optimise care efficiency.
Investing in advanced Falls Detection technology goes beyond cost-cutting, it helps care homes optimise resources, improve efficiency and enhance resident well-being.
Take a look at this guide exploring the key financial benefits of implementing an advanced falls detection solution has for care homes and their residents.
The Challenge - The High Cost of Falls in Care Homes
Falls place significant financial and operational pressure on care homes, affecting budgets, staffing and overall care quality:
- Care homes spend over £150,000 annually supporting residents after falls.
- Over 45,000 staff hours per year are spent on falls management and nighttime checks.
- Each fall-related hospital admission increases the risk of losing a resident permanently, disrupting the continuity of care and impacting occupancy levels.
- A resident hospitalised after a fall may not return, whether due to health deterioration, a move to higher-dependency care, or family concerns about safety. This can impact occupancy levels and require care homes to manage sensitive discussions with families.
- High fall rates can negatively impact Care Quality Commission (CQC) ratings, affecting funding and occupancy.
With these escalating costs, care providers need advanced solutions that detect falls in real time, help prevent long-lie incidents and ensure faster intervention, reducing the financial and reputational risks associated with falls.
The Solution - How Falls Detection Technology Delivers Cost Savings
1. Reducing Long-Lie Incidents to Improve Resident Retention and Care Efficiency
One of the biggest risks of falls in care homes isn’t just the injury itself, it’s the impact on resident retention and continuity of care. A hospital stay following a fall often leads to residents not returning, either due to health deterioration, a move to higher-dependency care, or families losing trust in the home’s ability to keep them safe.
A 2023 study by the Journal of Age and Ageing highlights how Falls Detection technology improves care home outcomes by:
- Reducing long-lie incidents, allowing for faster intervention
- Minimising the risk of residents leaving for higher-dependency care
- Helping staff prioritise care through real-time alerts
By ensuring falls are detected instantly, care homes can reduce the likelihood of hospitalisation, improve family confidence and keep occupancy rates stable.
2. Lowering Staffing and Operational Costs
Falls Detection technology reduces unnecessary night-time checks, freeing up staff time for direct resident care rather than routine observations. With over 45,000 hours per year spent on falls-related checks, streamlining this process improves staff efficiency and resource allocation.
3. Preventing Resident Transfers and Reducing Staff Workload
Detecting falls quickly reduces the risk of serious injury, helping care homes keep residents safe and avoid unnecessary hospital transfers that may result in permanent moves. Advanced monitoring identifies mobility patterns and risk factors, allowing staff to intervene earlier and focus care where it's needed most, optimising staff time and improving resident wellbeing
4. Enhancing CQC Compliance and Funding Opportunities
Falls Detection technology supports CQC compliance by providing clear data insights and proactive monitoring, demonstrating continuous improvement in care quality. A strong CQC rating helps attract new residents, retain existing ones and build family trust.
Choosing the Right Technology to Maximise Savings
To achieve these financial benefits, care homes need a smart, advanced falls detection solution that offers:
- Real-time alerts to reduce response times and prevent hospitalisation
- Non-intrusive monitoring that does not disrupt residents’ daily lives
- Seamless integration with care home workflows for easy adoption
Falls Detection technology is not just about safety, it’s a smart financial investment. By reducing hospital admissions, minimising long-lie risks and optimising staff time, care homes can cut unnecessary costs while enhancing care quality and occupancy.
Ready to see the financial impact for your care home? Book a call with us today to discover how Lilli can help reduce costs while improving resident safety and care outcomes.