Fall Detection Wearables in Parkinson's Disease Patients

The purpose of this research is to assess the various fall detection methods that may be used in patients suffering with Parkinson's disease. Fall detection technology is a rapidly growing field in healthcare, as falls are the leading cause of hospitalization in the elderly population. Fall detection wearables may offer a successful method in detecting and ultimately preventing falls, relieving stress for healthcare workers. Parkinson's disease patients suffer from a higher risk of falls than the rest of the healthy, elderly population and should be closely monitored for falls. The correlation of Parkinson's disease symptoms and falls were assessed based on literature, including tremor and freezing of gait. Fall detection wearables may offer a promising approach for Parkinson's disease patients to be monitored for their symptoms, their risk of falls, and for notifying a contact in case a fall does occur.