With preventing falls being paramount to protecting older adults’ health and minimizing health care costs, United States senators are asking the government to study technologies that can enable older adults and people with disabilities to live safely at home. One new tool powered by artificial intelligence (AI) is bringing impressive results and offers an example of innovative technologies that can meet these goals.

Call for Study on Technology’s Potential in Fall Prevention

Citing the health risks of falls, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), ranking member of the U.S. Senate Aging Committee, has requested a Government Accountability Office (GAO) study on how technology can transform the lives of older adults and people with disabilities. On May 21, 2026, she held a committee hearing alongside Chairman Rick Scott (R-FL) to examine the threat of falls among older Americans and evaluate how technology, community-based programs, and federal initiatives are improving prevention, early detection, and recovery.

“Emerging technologies like wearable devices have the potential to significantly improve the lives and safety of older adults and people with disabilities, but we must thoroughly investigate these technologies to understand their limitations,” said Gillibrand.

She asks that the GAO study identify technologies that can help older adults and adults with disabilities prevent injury and live safely and independently in their homes. The study would also explore how the federal government can facilitate adoption of these technologies.

Innovative AI Tool Predicts Falls and Supports Resident Dignity

An innovative platform by Helpany uses radar and AI to predict fall risk while safeguarding residents’ privacy and dignity. This small, unobtrusive device named PAUL uses technology to continuously analyze a resident’s motion patterns, detects early signs of decline in well-being, and enables care teams to intervene early.

Fellowship Square Mesa, a LeadingAge member and Arizona senior living community operated by Christian Care, saw nearly immediate improvements when it began using PAUL. By preventing falls, the Helpany solution enabled residents to spend more time in their familiar surroundings, injury-free. The community was able to retain ALTCS/Medicaid (Arizona Long Term Care System) payments that otherwise would be routed elsewhere for each day that a resident received care in a hospital or skilled nursing facility. The stability also lowered Medicaid’s costs.

Two months after installing PAUL in every assisted living apartment, Fellowship Square Mesa tracked a 70% reduction in falls, says a case study on the implementation. In addition, thanks to preventive alerts that enabled caregivers to respond quickly, no nighttime falls occurred.

In January 2025, Fellowship Square Mesa expanded its use of the Helpany platform into independent living and memory care, according to a recent press release. Over one year, in memory care alone, PAUL’s support yielded approximately 270 additional resident days in the building and over $78,000 in Medicaid cost savings.

The community’s strong success with Helpany won both organizations a Silver Award for Falls Prevention in the 2025 McKnight’s Excellence in Technology Awards.