Near-falls and falls detection system

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Older adults often fall. Falls have an effect on seniors' quality of life and them being able to live alone. Falls cause 85% of all injuries that send Canadian seniors to the hospital and 90% of all hip fractures; and, result in 40% of nursing home placements. The purpose of this research is to build a "near-falls and falls detection system." The system is worn by an older adult and collects data about the person. Doctors and others can then use the data to assess a near fall (an almost fall) or fall. Being able to correctly detect near falls is important for a few reasons: (1) many almost falls over time raises an older adult's fall risk; (2) knowing what happens when a senior almost falls gives doctors and others key data to prevent a future serious fall; and, (3) ways of assessing an almost fall and fall rely on the person being able to recall the event. Canadians are getting older. The research results will play a role in the care of older adults in the areas of preventing and treating falls, improving quality of life, and decreasing injuries and death, and may result in less hospital visits, fewer disabled seniors, and health care cost savings.