Falls in Assisted Living Facilities: Can Artificial Intelligence Improve Documentation and Reduce Injury?

To evaluate whether an artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted surveillance device, AUGi, improves documentation of falls and injury rates in assisted living facilities (ALFs).

The current study represents a secondary analysis of existing facility fall documentation data. An interrupted time series design analyzed monthly fall data from 9 months before and 4 months after AUGi installation. Segmented regression assessed changes in fall documentation trends.

No statistically significant immediate or trend changes were observed for total, injured, or non-injured falls. Injury rate slightly declined (Cohen's d = -0.54) without significance. Although statistical power was low (13%), the effect size suggests potential clinical relevance.

Findings suggest pre-installation under-documentation and improved post-installation accuracy. AI-assisted surveillance may enhance fall reporting, patient safety, and quality improvement in long-term care. Findings may serve as a springboard for more rigorous studies examining injury prevention, quality of life, and mortality outcomes in ALFs.