Falls prevention technology works best as part of a wider falls prevention approach, not as a replacement for it. Choose tools that match each resident’s individual risk, respect their privacy and independence, and fit how your staff work. Train staff well, review alerts and falls regularly, and settle consent and data governance before anything goes live.
Key points
- Start from each resident’s falls risk assessment and care plan, not from a product.
- Different technologies suit different residents; the least intrusive option that works is usually the right one.
- Consent or a recorded best-interest decision, access controls and a clear privacy policy must be in place first.
- Technology only helps if alerts reach staff reliably and staff are trained to act on them.
What does falls prevention technology actually do?
Falls prevention technology helps staff know when a resident at risk is about to get up, is moving, or has fallen, so they can respond sooner. It ranges from simple bed and chair sensors to room sensors and camera or radar based systems that detect activity without staff being in the room.
It helps to separate two jobs. Early warning tools alert staff when a resident starts to move, giving a chance to help before a fall happens. Detection tools raise an alert after a fall, so a resident is not left on the floor. Many products do a bit of both. Some also record patterns over time that can inform the care plan.
None of this replaces good falls management. NICE guidance on falls emphasises individual, multifactorial assessment and intervention, covering things like medication, continence, footwear, eyesight, strength and the environment. Technology supports that work by giving staff better information. Our fall prevention page explains how technology and practice fit together.
For equipment used in people’s own homes and in sheltered housing, see our telecare equipment buyer’s guide.
What types of falls technology are available?
The main types are pressure sensors on beds and chairs, movement and presence sensors, wearable fall detectors, radar or other non-camera room sensors, and camera-based monitoring. Each gives staff different information, suits different residents and carries a different level of privacy impact, so most homes use more than one.
| Type | How it works | Often suits | Things to weigh up |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed and chair pressure sensors | Alert when a resident gets up, or does not return within a set time | Residents at risk when rising, especially at night | Low privacy impact; positioning and setup affect false alerts |
| Floor mats and movement sensors | Detect a resident stepping out of bed or moving through a doorway | Residents who walk independently but unsafely | Mats can be a trip hazard; sensors need careful placement |
| Wearable fall detectors | Worn on the body and raise an alert on a detected fall or button press | Residents who move around the home and will wear a device | Only works if worn and charged; detection rather than prevention |
| Radar and other non-camera room sensors | Sense movement and position in the room without producing an image | Residents who need room-level awareness with more privacy | Coverage limits, setup per room and how alerts are verified |
| Camera-based monitoring | Uses video, sometimes with image analysis, to detect risk or falls | Residents at high risk where other options have not worked | Highest privacy impact; needs the strongest consent and access governance |
How do you match technology to each resident?
Start with the individual falls risk assessment and care plan, not the product catalogue. Consider how the resident moves, when falls tend to happen, their cognition, sleep and preferences. The right answer for one resident may be a bed sensor; for another a room sensor; for some, no technology at all.
Choose the least intrusive option that meets the need. Monitoring can become restrictive if it is used to stop a resident moving rather than to help them move safely, so think about independence as well as safety. Involve the resident and their family, record the reason in the care plan, and review whether it is still needed. Watch for alarm fatigue: too many false or low-value alerts teach staff to respond slowly, which defeats the purpose.
How should consent, privacy and footage be governed?
Before any monitoring goes live, agree the basis for it. Where a resident has capacity to decide, get and record their informed consent. Where they lack capacity for that decision, carry out and record a best-interest decision involving family or representatives. Review both regularly and whenever the resident’s needs change.
Decide in advance who can view live views, recordings or alerts, and limit access to the staff who need it for care. Each person should have their own login so access can be audited. Set how long any footage or data is kept, how it is deleted, and how requests from residents or families to see it are handled. Update your privacy policy and resident information to explain what is monitored and why, and complete a data protection impact assessment for anything involving cameras or room sensing.
Check where the supplier stores data and who at the supplier can access it. Ask whether they hold Cyber Essentials, and make sure the system is reflected in your Data Security and Protection Toolkit submission. Monitoring should never replace the dignity of a knock on the door.
What makes a falls technology project succeed?
Success depends on people and process as much as equipment. Alerts must reach the right staff reliably, usually through the nurse call system or staff handsets. Staff need training on setup, response and recording. Falls and alerts should be reviewed regularly so the technology, the care plan and staffing all improve together.
Before you buy, check that the technology connects to your existing nurse call or alerting system, and that alerts are clearly labelled so staff know which resident and which room. Agree a response protocol for each alert type, including what happens at night. Use falls data in your falls and post-fall reviews. Training matters as much as the technology: our care home training covers falls awareness and practical response for care teams.
Buyer’s checklist: questions to ask any supplier
- Which residents is this technology designed for, and which is it not suitable for?
- Does it help prevent falls, detect falls, or both?
- How does it connect to our nurse call or staff alerting system?
- How are false alerts reduced, and how is sensitivity adjusted per resident?
- If it uses cameras or room sensing, what does staff actually see, and when?
- Who can view live views, recordings or data, and is every access logged?
- Where is data stored, how long is it kept and how is it deleted?
- Do you hold Cyber Essentials, and how is remote access controlled?
- What support do you give with consent, best-interest records and privacy information?
- What training is included for day, night and agency staff?
- What reporting do we get to support falls reviews?
Frequently asked questions
Can falls technology stop all falls?
No. Technology can give staff earlier warning and faster awareness of a fall, but it cannot remove every risk. It works best alongside individual falls risk assessment, medication review, exercise, footwear, lighting and a safe environment. Treat it as one part of a falls prevention plan, reviewed regularly for each resident.
Do we need consent to use sensors in a resident’s room?
Yes, you need a proper basis. A resident with capacity should give informed consent, recorded in their care plan. Where a resident lacks capacity for that decision, a best-interest decision should be made and recorded with family or representatives. Camera-based monitoring needs particular care and a data protection impact assessment.
Are camera-based systems appropriate in care homes?
They can be, for specific residents where less intrusive options have not worked, but they carry the highest privacy impact. Limit who can view, log every access, set short and clear retention periods, update your privacy policy, and review regularly whether the camera is still needed. Some non-camera sensors offer room awareness without images.
Will falls technology work with our nurse call system?
Often, but not always. Many sensors connect to nurse call through standard inputs or integrations, while others send alerts to their own app. Ask the supplier exactly how alerts reach staff, whether that link has been tested with your nurse call system, and who supports the connection if something goes wrong.
How do we avoid alarm fatigue?
Use technology only where the care plan justifies it, set sensitivity and timings for each resident, and remove equipment that is no longer needed. Review false alerts with staff and the supplier. When staff trust that an alert means something, they respond faster, which is the whole point of the technology.
If you are weighing up falls prevention technology, or want to check that what you already use is working and properly governed, we can help. We will look at your residents, your building and your current approach, then give you clear, practical recommendations. Book a free care technology review.