Green light for Australian-first falls prevention research in aged care

16 February 2023

16 Feb 2023

VMCH is thrilled to be part of an industry leading research project to help predict and prevent falls among older people in aged care.

We have partnered with innovative falls detection technology provider HomeGuardian and leading researchers from Deakin University in a three-year study, made possible thanks to an incredible $2.65m investment from the Federal Government.

The Cooperative Research Centers Projects (CRC-P) Grant program supports short-term collaborative research projects for products that will “solve problems for industry and deliver real outcomes”.

Falls are a major health concern, with around 1 in 3 older Australians having experienced a fall in the past 12 months (healthdirect.gov.au). In residential aged care the rate is higher, with 30-50% of residents falling each year (health.vic.gov.au).

HomeGuardian’s Artificial Intelligence devices detect when something is wrong (such as a fall) and automatically escalate alerts within two seconds.

Two males and two females stand and sit together looking at a device

(L-R) HomeGuardian Co-CEO David Pearce and CEO Kane Sajdak, VMCH CIO Maria Paz and VMCH aged care resident Sr. Gabrielle celebrate research project using falls prevention devices.

Funding will allow VMCH to deploy thousands of devices and support to monitor falls across our residential aged care sites to help identify and enhance preventative measures.

“We are absolutely thrilled to play a key role in such an important initiative,” says VMCH Chief Information Officer Maria Paz.

“This grant will allow VMCH to continue to be a leading innovator in the adoption and development of technology solutions, through industry and research partnerships, to positively impact the broader sector.

This technology has the potential to not only help reduce hospital admissions, permanent moves into aged care and injuries, but save lives. Even when falls don’t cause injury, they can trigger a loss of confidence and an ongoing fear of falling. This technology would help boost independence that is so important to maintain as people age, plus provide peace of mind for families and carers.”

Using predictive indicators to reduce the incidence of falls would make the HomeGuardian device the first product in the global market to provide this functionality, increasing their competitiveness in a $21 trillion industry.

Research begins shortly and will run until December 2025.

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We here at VMCH respectfully acknowledge the traditional owners of the lands on which we gather, and we would like to take a moment to honour the fact that we live on the lands of the oldest civilisation in the world. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and wisdom of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and pay our respects to their elders past, present and emerging.