Falls and fall related injuries are among the most serious and common medical problems experienced by older adults. Nearly one-third of older persons fall each year, and half of them fall more than once. ^[2].

There are many factors both external and internal that affect the way in which we fall and how it can impact on the body. As we age, our reflexes to prevent a fall slow, meaning we are more susceptible to injury. "The likelihood of dying from injuries received in a fall increases with age."^[3] The difference in how we fall as we age makes prevention and detection of falls for older people complex.

Pearl Advanced is a specialised help button worn as a pendant or clip-on pendant. It is designed to detect and summon help automatically if the wearer has experienced a fall and also features a help button in case of an emergency.

Pearl Advanced uses a comprehensive detection algorithm to detect a fall and subsequent impact. The six stage algorithm is designed to ensure that a fall by a person will summon help and that false activations are minimised.

Pearl Advanced features a unique move-to-cancel period. When a fall is detected, Pearl Advanced looks for significant movement which would automatically cancel an alert being sent to the base station. If no movement is detected in this time period Pearl Advanced then sounds a warning beep to signify it is about to send an alert for help.

Significant movement within the warning beep time stops the signal from being sent to the base unit. Once the signal is received by the base unit, there is the standard prealarm period which gives the user another opportunity to stop the alert being sent by pressing the cancel button. If the user does not cancel the warning message, then a fall detected alert is sent over the phone line to the monitoring centre. The operator follows a specific response procedure which may include trying to contact the person and sending help if required.

Pearl Advanced features bidirectional radio frequency communication with a specialised reader/programmer. This enables fall settings to be adjusted for the ideal balance between detecting falls and minimising false activations, to meet individual requirements.

Chiptech has undertaken considerable research in developing its fall detection system, including collaboration with leading experts in international research organisations. Chiptech recognises that people fall in different ways and it is possible some types of falls will not be detected. The help button on Pearl Advanced can always be pressed to summon assistance.

[1] Wild D, Nayak US, Isaacs B. How dangerous are falls in old people at home? British Medical Journal (Clinical Research) 1981;282:266-8.
[2] Moylan KC, Binder. Falls in older adults: risk assessment, management and prevention. Am J Med. 2007;120(6):493.e1-6. PMID 17524747
[3] Hon Ruth Dyson, Minister for ACC. Preventing injury from Falls, The National Stratergy 2005-2015 2005 ISBN: 0-478-27960-4