Sense4Safety home fall-prevention program
Sense4Safety Intervention
This program uses in-home sensors and a coach to help older adults with mild cognitive impairment lower their chance of falling.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11226721 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you join, small passive sensors will be installed in your home to quietly monitor movement and detect patterns linked to higher fall risk. Computer algorithms will watch those patterns and send individualized alerts when your risk seems to be rising. When an alert occurs, a trained coach will contact you to help put a personalized plan into action, such as balance exercises, home safety changes, or medication review. Participants will be randomly assigned to the Sense4Safety program or usual care, and researchers will also study how to make the program work in different community settings.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are community-dwelling adults aged 65 or older with mild cognitive impairment who are willing to have passive sensors installed in their homes.
Not a fit: People who live in nursing homes or assisted living, do not have cognitive impairment, are under 65, or decline in-home sensors or coaching may not benefit from this program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, Sense4Safety could reduce falls and fall-related injuries by spotting rising risk early and prompting timely, personalized coaching.
How similar studies have performed: Some prior fall-prevention programs and pilot tests of in-home monitoring have shown promise, and this intervention has pilot data but lacks confirmation in a large randomized trial.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- University of Pennsylvania — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Demiris, George — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Demiris, George
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.