The Smart Shower: Safety for Individuals at Risk for Fall

Abstract

There is a growing trend in the world today, especially in the United States, of older individuals falling in the shower causing death and/or serious injury. Many times, it is not the fall that is causing death or injuries such as burns but is caused by the fall going unnoticed. As medical technology continues to advance, individuals are continuing to live longer with each passing year. While this trend continues, so does the movement for more independent living solutions for older individuals. With the CDC predicting a large rise in deaths due to shower falls in the coming years, a solution is necessary for individuals who would like to have independence and may not be ready for any kind of assisted living solution. A pressure sensing shower mat was developed to detect if an individual falls in the shower. This mat not only detected falls, but was able to send a notification via E-mail, and has the capability to contact Emergency Medical Services (EMS). Using multiple FlexiForce sensors, an Arduino Uno WIFI R2 Microcontroller, LED pushbuttons, and a breadboard circuit, force can be detected, and if fall parameters are met, an E-mail is sent via Webhooks and IFTTT implementation. This solution shows promise for continued engineering advancements as well as IoT (Internet of Things) technology that can better help older individuals keep their independence longer.