Every year, millions of seniors fall and reap consequences such as fractures, broken bones, and head injuries. According to Tech Explore, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that once an individual falls they double their chances of falling again.
Now, individuals can mitigate these fall-related consequences with a mere sensor on the wall. The Walabot HOME is a smarthome device that individuals can install on their walls to detect falls. After sensing a fall, with Vayyar’s sensor imaging technology, the device calls for help by contacting someone of the person’s choice. Walabot said a fall can be detected at a range of up to 10 feet in front of the device and within five feet on either said of the device.
HOME was created to eliminate the need for individuals having to carry around a fall detection device. HOME operates in the background just like a smoke detector operates on a wall. Most seniors wear an emergency response system that relies on a panic button located on a necklace. This comes in handy if the individual is conscious, but if the individual is not conscious, those systems are no longer effective.
“People want to feel comfortable in their homes without the burden of needing to wear a pendant or medical alert device, but they still want the security of knowing that they can get help if they need it,” said Raviv Melamed, CEO of Vayyar. “Walabot HOME is so effective because people can set it up and then relax, feeling secure in the knowledge it’s there just in case.”
Vayyar explained two possible scenarios when a fall is detected on HOME. The first is when a true fall occurs and the monitoring line on the HOME device screen changes from a fixed line to a moving line. When the LED bulb flashes blue, the device then announces that a fall has been detected, and that a phone call has been placed to the programmed emergency contact. This initiates a two-way voice communication that is established through the Walabot HOME device.
The second scenario Vayyar explained is if the Walabot HOME functions as noted above, but the individual instead cancels the alarm, if no further action is necessary.
The device works with the Walabot HOME mobile app for both iOS and Android. Once the emergency contact has installed and downloaded the app, this enables two-way communication if a fall occurs.
