Falls are a significant concern for seniors, and it is one of the leading cause of fatal and nonfatal injuries. Even though falling does not result directly in death, related injuries such as hip fractures and head traumas can be severe and have debilitating effects on the seniors’ quality of life. In addition, the subsequent surgeries and hospitalization would often spiral into further health complications and lengthy recovery time after a fall. For seniors living in residential care facilities (long-term-care homes), the consequences of falling are further amplified due to existing health conditions leading them further into physical decline and prolonged stays. As the majority of fall incidents happen at night when seniors try to use the bathroom while unattended by care staff, IlluminAid is a safety lighting system created to reduce falls and increase the quality of sleep.

Built upon the previous work I’ve done with Providence Health Care (PHC) and their Residental Care for Me initiative, IlluminAid was funded by the SPARK program offered by the Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation. Together with the Research and Design team at PHC and the Health Design Lab (HDL) at Emily Carr University (ECU), we look to explore the concept of a fall-prevention lighting system for seniors living in long-term-care homes.

To read more about the design, please click here to view the project process book.