Pilot project for the first AI-based fall detection system in homes gets underway in Waalre
The ageing population in the Netherlands is growing. The proportion of people aged 65 and over is expected to rise to 24.4% by 2035, peaking at around 25.1% by 2040 (source: CBS). This also means that older people are living independently in their own homes for longer, and solutions are needed to create a safe living environment.
As part of this initiative, the pilot scheme featuring the first AI fall detection systems in the Netherlands was officially launched on Wednesday 13 May in the municipality of Waalre. The scheme is aimed at older people who wish to continue living safely and independently in their own homes for as long as possible and who are at increased risk of falling. If someone falls in their own home later in life, it is essential for their medical recovery that they are found and helped as quickly as possible. This AI fall detection equipment is already in use in care and nursing homes, but has not yet been applied in the home environment. Waalre is therefore the first municipality in the Netherlands to do so, with WeConnect acting as the main funder and facilitator, making the project possible by connecting the various parties involved.
Mayor Oosterveer, together with a participant in the pilot, performed the official opening by cutting a ribbon. Marcel Oosterveer: “When getting up after a fall at home is no longer a matter of course, it is good that there is technology that can quickly alert others. That provides peace of mind and helps people to continue living at home for longer.”
For this pilot, ten participants from Leefsamen in Waalre have been provided with fall detection devices featuring AI fall detection software from Kepler Vision Technologies. Leefsamen ensures that, via their alarm system, relatives receive an immediate notification via an app, so that help can be provided quickly. With the help of these partners and Connectie Brainport, the technology has been designed in such a way that it can be scaled up in North Brabant and beyond. In addition, Stichting Wonen Welzijn Zorg Waalre, as the representative, is ensuring support within the community and the municipality of Waalre. The technology is now fully operational and is currently being tested in practice by the first users.
Via a sensor mounted on the ceiling, the system analyses video footage in real time to recognise situations without the need for a person to be watching. The AI is trained to recognise a fall immediately and raise the alarm straight away. The software recognises patterns and behaviours such as getting out of bed, falling or staying in the bathroom for too long, and can be configured to analyse images without the person’s identity being recognisable (for example, by blurring faces), thereby ensuring privacy is maintained.
With its fiber optic network, WeConnect facilitates innovations that have not yet taken off elsewhere, with a view to accelerating developments in the healthcare sector within the Brainport region, amongst other things. The pilot is designed to optimise the technology in a home setting so that the service can eventually be rolled out fully. Interested residents of Waalre can still sign up for the pilot.
Sign up for the pilotFor more information, please contact:
Marcel Menting – WeConnect Waalre
marcel@weconnectwaalre.nl / 06 - 21479363