Evaluation of a Telemergency Service for Older People Living at Home: A Study Protocol

Ageing is a critical challenge for public health and healthcare systems worldwide, as it is associated with an increased risk of falls, disability, cognitive impairment, and comorbidities. Among strategies to reduce negative fall outcomes, fall detection devices, such as Personal Emergency Response Systems (PERS), seem to be beneficial tools. PERS enable the detection and reporting of potentially dangerous situations in and outside home. However, more studies are needed to understand who can best benefit from these devices, as most did not associate alert data with user health information. For this purpose, a retrospective cohort study is being conducted to describe two years of alerts activation and the characteristics of users, distinguishing between those who privately pay for the service and those who receive a fund from public local authorities.