How a Concerned Founder Developed Innovative Fall Detection Sensors to Protect His Mother
Falls among seniors are a significant concern, particularly for those living semi-independently. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), falls are the leading cause of injury in adults aged 65 and older. Alarmingly, around 10% of these falls result in serious injuries that require medical attention, yet many individuals do not receive the necessary treatment. This has led to the emergence of innovative solutions aimed at improving fall detection and prevention.
Innovative Solutions for Fall Detection
One notable company addressing this issue is SafelyYou, founded by George Netscher. His personal experience with family members suffering from Alzheimer’s inspired him to develop advanced technology to help seniors avoid falls.
The Birth of SafelyYou
“The tech originated in 2015 as part of my doctoral research,” Netscher shared with TechCrunch. “SafelyYou’s mission is to ensure the highest-quality care for seniors in any care setting.”
How SafelyYou Works
SafelyYou offers a comprehensive platform designed for senior living communities, integrating a combination of AI-powered sensors and cameras to monitor and detect falls.
Key Features of SafelyYou’s Technology
- Immediate Alerts: The system triggers text and phone alerts to on-call staff the moment a fall is detected.
- Remote Clinical Support: A dedicated clinical team reviews each incident, providing actionable insights and recommendations to reduce fall risks.
- Data-Driven Insights: SafelyYou has analyzed over 300,000 fall events, allowing them to refine their approach continually.
“Our expert clinicians regularly review fall videos, conduct root cause analyses, and provide suggestions that help to reduce future falls in senior living communities,” Netscher added.
Overcoming Challenges and Expanding Reach
Despite facing significant challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, when assisted-living facilities were quarantined, SafelyYou successfully adapted and is now serving nearly 1,000 senior living communities across the country.
Funding for Growth
To further support its expansion, SafelyYou recently secured a $43 million Series C funding round led by Touring Capital, with contributions from prominent investors such as Foundation Capital, Omega Healthcare Investors, Founders Fund, Cross Creek Advisors, Samsung Next, and Qualcomm Ventures. This funding boosts SafelyYou’s total capital raised to over $100 million.
Netscher confirmed that the new capital will be utilized to enhance the company’s team of approximately 100 employees based in San Francisco, focusing on developing even more effective solutions for fall prevention.
For more information on fall prevention and related technologies, you can visit the National Council on Aging.
