New Wearable Tech to Prevent Senior Falls

Falls are a big deal for seniors, and a Calgary PhD student is teaming up with a retirement community to test out a cool new gadget that could help prevent falls. According to the government of Canada, falls are the main cause of injury for seniors, making up 85 per cent of injury-related hospital visits. This month is all about fall prevention, and the student, Jordan King, is working on a wearable necklace-style device that uses electrical stimulus to hopefully prevent seniors from losing their balance. The goal is to improve the body’s balance system and keep people off walkers or canes for as long as possible. The team is partnering with a retirement community in Calgary to test the prototype, and the hope is that it will reduce the number of falls and improve seniors’ quality of life. The device is worn around the neck and uses electrodes behind the ears to stimulate the body’s balance. The plan is for seniors to use it for 20 to 25 minutes, three times a week for six weeks. The team is also looking into using it five days in a row to see if that works too. The student, Jordan King, is excited about the potential of this technology and hopes it can help older adults across Canada and North America. The project has been a hit with the retirement community, and residents are buzzing with excitement about it. The hope is that this gadget could make a real difference for seniors and help them stay strong and independent for longer.