Novel Falls Risk Assessment Technologies Launched at the TRIL Clinic at St James’s Hospital

1 in 3 people over the age of 65 suffer from a fall every year in Ireland. Two-thirds of this group fall again within 6 months, leading to risk of hospitalisation and significant health decline. In addition a recent study by The Irish Centre for Social Gerontology showed that the cost to the economy of falls and fractures in older people is about €0.5 billion annually.

Seán Sherlock TD, Minister for Research and Innovation, has launched the falls risk assessment suite, developed within the TRIL (Technology Research for Independent Living) Centre, into clinical assessment at the TRIL Clinic. This novel suite of technologies could potentially increase the accuracy in the assessment of falls risk in older people.

The TRIL Centre and Clinic were established to develop competitive, state-of-the art technologies for ageing given global opportunities in ageing demographics. The TRIL Centre is at the forefront of using mobile devices with novel sensor technology and algorithms to predict risk of falling and includes, University College Dublin and Trinity College Dublin academic researchers, St James’s Hospital and industry partners.

 
Minister Seán Sherlock TD, Clodagh Cunningham, TRIL Clinical Research Nurse, Christine Byrne, TRIL volunteer and Katie Sheehan, TRIL Physiotherapist

TRIL’s technology supports efforts to improve accuracy in assessing falls risk and mobility, resulting in more targeted interventions for those at risk of falling. The technology suite has been developed on a mobile platform using wireless sensors. This model enables sophisticated falls risk assessment to be undertaken in the home or in the community.

Minister Sherlock, speaking at the launch, reiterated how important research and innovation is for helping to address the significant economic and social implications the ageing demographics will have on our economy. “The TRIL Centre it is an excellent demonstration of research and innovation involving academic, clinical and industry partners,” he said. He added, “It is activities like TRIL that will help position Ireland as a hub and global leader in ageing research and health technology innovation.”

The TRIL technology supports efforts to improve accuracy in assessing falls risk and mobility, resulting in more targeted interventions for those at risk of falling. The technology suite has been developed on a mobile platform using wireless sensors; this model enables sophisticated falls risk assessment to be undertaken in the home or community.

Speaking about the need to predict risk of falling, Consultant Physician and Director of the Falls and Blackout Unit at St. James’s Hospital, Professor Rose Anne Kenny, and a TRIL Principal Investigator for Falls Prevention and Professor of Geriatric Medicine, Trinity College Dublin said, "The EU has targeted falls prevention as one of its main priorities for health research in ageing. Falls become more common as we age and the consequences of falls, such as fractures, also increase. Unfortunately recurrent falls often result in admission to long term care. Therefore early detection of treatable conditions which cause falls prevent these serious consequences. These new technologies provide such early detection".

ENDS

5 July 2012

For further information contact Micéal Whelan, University College Dublin, Communications Manager (Innovation), e: miceal.whelan@ucd.ie or t: + 353 1 716 3712 or Seamus Small, TRIL Centre Manager, e: seamus.small@trilcentre.org.

Editor’s Note

The TRIL Centre is conducting leading-edge research that is uncovering the biological and psychological factors behind falls in older people. In conjunction with researchers based in University College Dublin, Trinity College Dublin, Intel Ireland and GE Healthcare, the TRIL Centre is at the forefront of using novel sensor technology to predict risk of falling and pointing the way to better diagnosis and management.

The TRIL Centre has undertaken a substantial ageing research programme that has resulted in over 240 publications, the creation of 15 technologies and the trialling of technologies in the homes of over 500 older people.

Work at the TRIL Clinic in St James’s Hospital involves:

• Exploring the physical, social and psychological dimensions of ageing through comprehensive assessment of a large cohort of older Irish adults·
• Validating novel technologies for assessment
• Providing a well characterised cohort of older adults that participate on various research projects across the centre.

 By the end of 2012, 1,335 comprehensive bio-psycho-social assessments will have been carried out at the Clinic.

TRIL is funded by Intel, GE Healthcare and IDA Ireland. www.trilcentre.org