Resident fall prevention technologies for senior living: A comparative resource guide

Resident falls remain the leading cause of injury among adults aged 65 and older, with over 14 million U.S. seniors reporting a fall each year and about 3 million emergency department visits annually.

WTW's Senior Living Claims Benchmarking Study highlights resident fall claims, which remain among the highest in both claim severity and frequency, affecting both senior living operators and residents. Because of this finding, senior living operators face increased scrutiny from regulatory agencies and underwriters, and continue to suffer reputational damage due to poor-quality outcomes, shorter resident stays and loss of family trust.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) regulations have also introduced stricter guidelines for resident care, particularly regarding fall risk. Recent updates to the Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI; v1.20.1, Oct 2025) and the CMS quality measure have clarified the definitions of “falls” and “falls with major injury,” leading to increased scrutiny and greater financial implications for reported events.

As technology advances rapidly and many fall technology platforms are available on the market, many senior providers struggle to compare options or choose the best solution for their organization.

This resource guide compares fall detection technologies and highlights regulatory and other technological risks that may arise when considering technology as a solution for resident fall prevention and management. It also aims to help create a step-by-step framework for choosing and testing solutions suited to the senior living sector. Additionally, the guide discusses legal risks and insurance needs arising from the evolving landscape of technology and AI-driven care solutions.

Download the guide to the right.