How Community Support Prevents Falls and Mitigates Risk for Israel’s Seniors

Every day in Israel, about 1,000 elderly individuals experience an accidental fall. I myself recently tripped over a shoe on my floor and landed with a fractured bone. I’m 72 years old, and grateful it was just a toe (thank Gd, not a hip, or worse). With the 65-and-older population expected to double by 2040, the safety and well-being of older adults in Israel is going to become a concern for nearly every family in this country. 

Given that roughly one-third of older Israelis will face a fall at least once in their lifetime—and that these incidents often lead to serious injuries requiring extensive medical care, or even death—the urgency to tackle this issue has never been more pressing. As we head into Falls Prevention Awareness Week, I thought it was an especially appropriate time to share some thoughts on this topic, and what we at Yad Sarah are doing to help.

Recognizing the severity of the problem, Yad Sarah, Israel’s leading volunteer-run organization, is pioneering proactive and personalized fall prevention strategies. One of our key initiatives leverages technology to ensure immediate assistance in urgent situations. We provide wearable personal emergency response systems (PERS) to elderly individuals at risk of falling. These devices, such as pendants or wristbands, continuously monitor the user’s movements inside their homes and detect sudden changes in motion that may indicate a fall. Upon detection of a fall, the device sends an alert to a monitoring center or directly to emergency contacts, ensuring prompt assistance when it’s most critical. 

Our PERS devices also contain GPS technology with real-time location tracking. This feature is particularly crucial for individuals who cannot speak after a fall or those with cognitive impairments who may not know where they are. By combining fall detection and location tracking, these systems significantly enhance the ability of caregivers and emergency responders to quickly locate and assist the person in need.

Yad Sarah has collaborated with the Ministry of Welfare to distribute and install PERS fall sensors in the homes of thousands of elderly individuals in Israel, free of charge. In the event of a fall, these advanced sensors will promptly notify both the Yad Sarah medical emergency center and a designated relative, thus ensuring a swift response and provision of care.

The rising demand for these fall detection devices reflects a growing recognition of the importance of safeguarding our elderly population. Dr. Ezra Shapiro, a geriatric medicine specialist and head of Yad Sarah’s Fall Prevention Center, recently shared a poignant story with me of an elderly friend who fell in the middle of the night. 

“Eleven hours passed before help arrived, and the prolonged time on the floor resulted in the release of muscle proteins into the blood, causing severe kidney failure that required dialysis. Had he been wearing a fall detection pendant,” Dr. Shapiro emphasized, “the emergency response would have been immediate, potentially preventing the severe complications that followed.”

In addition to providing PERS devices, Yad Sarah maintains an extensive equipment lending program, which provides vital mobility aids to support seniors in their daily activities. We offer a free lending service for walkers, canes, crutches, wheelchairs, and many other home-healthcare items, like shower chairs and bed rails, that enable older adults to navigate their environments safely and confidently. By facilitating mobility, we empower seniors to maintain their independence and enhance their quality of life.

Yad Sarah also provides personalized home safety consultations to assess the unique needs of Israel’s elderly population. These home visits are focused on providing practical modifications to enhance safety and prevent falls. We emphasize simple steps to create a safer environment, like removing loose rugs, clearing floor clutter, and ensuring adequate lighting throughout the home, particularly on staircases and in bathrooms. Our experts can also recommend changes such as installing grab bars and rearranging furniture for easier navigation.  

To promote physical well-being, Yad Sarah offers tai chi and strength training exercise classes specifically designed for older adults. These classes focus on improving balance, flexibility, and strength, helping participants reduce their risk of falls. By encouraging movement and fitness, we aim to enhance the overall health and vitality of seniors in our community.

Dr. Shapiro also recommends that seniors consult with a healthcare provider to review all medications, as some prescriptions and over-the-counter drugs can cause dizziness or drowsiness, which can increase the risk of falls. Regular medication reviews can help mitigate these side effects. Additionally, impairments in vision and hearing can significantly increase the risk of falling, so elderly individuals should have regular check-ups to ensure they are using the correct prescription glasses or hearing aids.

While not every fall can be prevented, a greater societal awareness of the issue—and the steps that can be taken to both prevent and respond to falls—will no doubt lead to increasing the quality of life in Israel (or anywhere). My hope and prayer is that by working together we can make a big difference at Yad Sarah and beyond.