Partners
Professor Gangmin Ning
Zhejiang University, China
Prof. Lili Liu, Prof. Eleni Stroulia
The University of Alberta
Prof. Ramond Tong, Prof. Arthur Fuk‐Tat Mak
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Overview
Movement ability assessment is crucial for assessing fall risks and predicting fall events in older adults, as well as for the mitigating falls through rehabilitation. Through research collaboration of Zhejiang University, China and the University of Alberta, Canada, the project aims to develop key technologies in movement ability assessment for older adults.
The worldwide aging population is increasing rapidly. In 2015, the world’s population aged 60 years and older was estimated 900 million and is expected to 2 billion in 2050. With the increase of age, the fall rates dramatically rises. About half of the people aged over 60 years have the fall accidents. Older people have the highest risk of death or serious injury arising from a fall and the risk increases with age. World widely falls are the second leading cause of accidental deaths. The financial costs for fall-related injuries are incredible, for people aged 65 years or older, the average health system cost per fall injury in Finland and Australia are US$ 3611 and US$ 1049 respectively. Presently, aging is one of the main global challenges and leads to social health and financial problems.
Preventions are effective to reduce the falls events of older population and the fall caused injury. The preventions may include early identification and proper assessment of fall risks, training and enhancement of the movement ability of elders, improve the living environment etc. For that low cost, convenient and effective techniques are demanded.
The joint research groups from Zhejiang University, the University of Alberta and the Chinese University of Hong Kong will intend: (1) To develop techniques and devices to quantitatively assess the movement ability of elderly, and screen the population with high fall risks; (2) Based on the assessment to propose individual strategies for supporting the elderly with decline of movement ability; (3) To apply the techniques in China and Canada, compare the outcomes in the both countries and investigate the prevention strategies due to the differences in culture, health system and social environment.
The outcomes of the project will be: Prototype of devices for assessing the movement ability of elderly, which could be put into productions; Propose the strategies for west and east countries to prevent the falls of elderly; Build and enhance the research networking between Canada and China.
Events
The first project workshop was held in Zhejiang University, on March 27-28, 2017.
The second project workshop will be held at the University of Alberta, on June 12-13, 2017.