Devices that offer visual or audio cues for older adults are an important developing market as care providers look to reduce incidences of falls.
One startup, De Oro Devices, is hoping to broaden its market reach for NexStride, a device that attaches to tools like canes or walkers and creates a green laser projection on the ground for users to follow.
The company officially announced a partnership with New York-based RiverSpring Living following a successful trial run of its device at RiverSpring’s campus in the Bronx.
NexStride, which also has a built-in metronome, was initially created for people with Parkinson’s, a company spokesman said, but that use has now expanded to nearly any older adult with mobility disorders.
The laser projects on any flooring surface and would be relatively easy to integrate into the routine of residents, company spokesman Cameron Hasbrouck said.
“The device is pretty intuitive,” Hasbrouck told the McKnight’s Tech Daily on Monday. “It doesn’t require a lot of ‘training,’ but that does depend on the circumstances. Some seniors might need extra help. A skilled nursing team could get residents comfortable with it, trusting how to use it.”
Falls are a common problem among older adult, many of whom are likely to be physically or cognitively challenged. There have recently been disturbing trends, however, with both the number of fall injuries and deaths on the rise.
Audiovisual cueing has been shown to reduce falling incidences in people with Parkinson’s by 40%.
NexStride worked with a RiverSpring resident, a 73-year-old woman with several conditions, including Parkinson’s. The resident’s gait improved, and she did not fall once while using NexStride for all her activities over an 18-day period, according to the company.
“Technologies like NexStride have become invaluable tools for us,” RiverSpring Living Chief Operating Officer David Pomeranz said in a statement. “By implementing NexStride as a key component of the rehabilitation process, our highly skilled therapists will be able to deliver more robust, meaningful outcomes for our patients.”
De Oro also has set up a partnership with the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide veterans who have Parkinson’s or other mobility-related diseases discounted or free NexStride devices.
