Many seniors are active later in life, but that can come along with consequences like a higher chance of falls. To provide more safety for seniors, Royal Philips has announced availability in Canada of its mobile medical alert service, Philips Lifeline GoSafe.

“The health care industry needs to focus on senior care now, to try and alleviate the growing and inevitable pressure on the system, while keeping in mind both cost and meeting today's needs of the aging population,” David Doyle, director for Philips Lifeline Canada, told HCB News. “Leveraging smart technology is just one of the ways that the industry can meaningfully approach the challenges ahead and deliver the care and support Canadian seniors will continue to demand.”

The Government of Canada reported in 2014 that 80 percent of seniors participate in at least one social activity per month, 36 percent perform volunteer work and 13 percent are in the workforce. In Canada, falls are the main cause of injuries that lead to hospitalization among those 65 years and older and about 20 to 30 percent of seniors in Canada have at least one fall per year.

“Seniors are looking to extend their freedom and independence, live at home longer, and stay connected to the world in a meaningful way,” said Doyle. “These changing interests impact the health care industry, and how we respond to an ever-changing evolution of demands.”

GoAlert’s built-in autoalert fall detection technology automatically alerts a 24-hour emergency call response center for help if it detects a fall. Seniors can also trigger the alert if they have a health emergency or just want some added reassurance.

The Canadian population is now made up of more seniors than children and it’s expected that by 2021 there will be almost 7 million people over 65 years old, which will be 19 percent of the total population, and that will rise to 25 percent by 2041, according to a Certified General Accountants Association of Canada Aging Population report from 2005.

“In addition to the obvious concerns around demand on health care, a shrinking workforce, and increased social responsibility, the shift in demographic poses new challenges to both the aging population, and those who care for them,” said Doyle.

Canada seems to be very enthusiastic about the technology. “The response to Philips Lifeline GoSafe has been very positive in Canada and we are adding new subscribers every day,” said Doyle. “Feedback from patients and health care practitioners has been great — our new service offering is appealing to seniors that remain active members of their community and frequently find themselves outside the home.”

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