Originally published in HomeCare Magazine

As a doctor, many of my patients fighting their battle with cancer, particularly older adults, were seeing their recovery or treatment plans derailed by something as simple as a fall. A single fall could undo months of progress, leading to prolonged hospital stays or even life-altering complications. I was shocked to discover just how widespread the issue of falls at home is. Every 15 minutes, an older adult in the U.S. dies from a fall. This isn’t just a statistic—it’s a call to action. This experience ultimately led me to co-found DwellSafe, a company dedicated to addressing this growing crisis by helping make homes safer for aging adults. 

A Need for Safer Homes 

By 2050, the number of Americans over 65 will increase by 76%, straining a burdened health care system and exposing the shortcomings of our homes to meet these new demands. Falls alone are responsible for $50 billion in health care costs annually—a figure projected to double by 2030. But these statistics only scratch the surface of a far more pressing issue: the growing disconnect between health care and the places where care increasingly needs to happen—the home. 

More care is being delivered at home, and this trend is only accelerating. Hospitals, insurers and caregivers recognize that the home is becoming an extension of clinical environments. But for this shift to be successful, homes must adapt. They must be designed and modified to accommodate the evolving health care needs of residents, because the boundary between health care facilities and the home is dissolving. 

If we don’t rethink home safety now, the consequences will be severe, not only in terms of health outcomes but in economic costs. There are a few critical factors driving this need: 

1. The Hospital-at-Home Movement: With the potential to reduce costs and improve patient outcomes, this model allows patients to receive care in familiar surroundings. But the home must be equipped to safely support this care. Many homes are not, which puts patients at risk and limits the potential benefits of this movement. 
2. The Long-Term Care Crisis: Affordable long-term care options are dwindling, while the cost of institutional care rises. By 2030, the U.S. will face a shortage of 3 million+ caregivers. Aging in place isn’t just a preference for many—it’s a necessity. This underscores the need for homes that can support safe, independent living, reducing costly external care. 
3. The Cost of Inaction: Falls are a leading driver of emergency room visits and hospital stays among older adults. The financial toll is immense: A single fall-related hospitalization averages over $30,000. For many families, this can lead to devastating financial hardship. Yet most homes remain ill-equipped to prevent these accidents, making fall prevention an issue we cannot afford to ignore. 
4. A Fragmented Approach: The current system is siloed. Clinicians, home contractors and safety product manufacturers are often working independently, without coordination. As a result, opportunities for early intervention and prevention are missed. The solutions to these challenges exist, but what’s missing is an integrated, holistic approach that bridges these gaps and unites health care with home safety. 

Innovation Is Vital for Change 

To address the growing crisis in home safety, we don’t need incremental tweaks—we need a revolution. The current system is not built to handle the complexity or scale of the problem. But with the right combination of technology and clinical insight, we can transform home safety from a reactive, fragmented process into something seamless, proactive and integrated with health care. Health care providers must recognize the critical role home safety plays in patient outcomes, and home access professionals need to see themselves as part of the health care team, not as a separate entity. Working together is the only path forward. 

What does this revolution look like? 

1. Technology-Driven Solutions: Imagine leveraging technology that can scan a room and generate personalized safety recommendations tailored to the health and home environment of each resident. This is not just a futuristic concept—it’s a practical solution within reach. We are already Time for a Home Safety Revolution 5 keys to adapting homes for aging leveraging technologies like artificial intelligence-powered assessments to help clinicians and families make informed decisions about home safety. The goal is not to replace professionals but to empower them with tools that enable greater reach and efficiency. Without the adoption of innovative technologies, the workforce will never scale to meet the needs of a rapidly aging population. Embracing these advancements isn’t just an option—it’s essential. 
2. Clinically Informed Safety Plans: The key to effective home safety interventions is combining environmental analysis with clinical expertise. A one-size-fits-all approach will fail. Each safety plan must account for the unique health profile of the resident. Removing clinical insight from this process would erode trust and lead to poor outcomes. By embedding clinical expertise in home assessments, we ensure that the safety solutions are practical and meaningful. 
3. Scalable Interventions: We must develop solutions that can be implemented quickly and cost-effectively. Remote assessments and standardized safety packages have the potential to update millions of homes at once, making home safety not only achievable but accessible. Scaling up these interventions is the only way to meet the urgent demand. 
4. Integrated Systems: The future of home safety lies in creating ecosystems that connect health care providers, home modification experts and product manufacturers. These stakeholders cannot operate in isolation. We need integrated systems that allow for the seamless sharing of data and insights, ensuring that the right safety solutions are delivered at the right time. A centralized data platform will allow us to understand who needs what, when and why. It will help demonstrate value to payers, engaging the health care industry in this home safety revolution. 
5. Predictive Analytics: Data can transform home safety from a reactive practice to a proactive one. By analyzing risk patterns, we can predict potential hazards before they lead to accidents. This is the next frontier—using data to respond to risks, to anticipate them and intervene early. 

The Time for Bold Solutions 

The statistics paint a stark picture: 3 million older adults visit the emergency room each year because of falls, home modifications for aging in place have increased by 76% and older Americans now spend $130 billion annually on home remodeling. But behind these numbers are real people. These figures represent opportunities to make a meaningful difference. 

• Policymakers: Investing in innovative home safety solutions isn’t just about reducing health care costs—it’s about preventing injury, preserving independence and improving lives. The return on investment, financially and in terms of quality of life, could be transformative. 
• Health Care Providers: Extend your care beyond the clinic and into the home. Your clinical insights are critical in developing home safety solutions that truly work. Embracing technology that enhances patient care at home can have a profound impact on health outcomes. 
• Home Access Professionals: Now is the time to fully integrate with the health care system and recognize your place as an essential part of the patient care continuum. By collaborating with health care providers and leveraging clinical expertise, you can save lives and prove the value of home safety at scale. 
• Homeowners & Families: Think about safety before it becomes a necessity. Small adjustments today can prevent major incidents tomorrow. Proactive steps can make all the difference in creating a safe, supportive environment for aging in place. 

The future home isn’t just smart—it’s safe. It’s a space where health care and technology intersect, designed to evolve with our needs as we age. Realizing this vision requires collective effort, but the benefits—greater safety, reduced costs and enhanced quality of life—are worth it. 

With innovative solutions, we can turn the tide on falls, improve the lives of millions and reshape the future of home safety. The home safety revolution is here—now is the time to embrace it.

--

James Taylor, MD, MPH, is the co-founder of DwellSafe, which offers an app that assesses homes for fall dangers. He studied medicine at Wake Forest University School of Medicine and public health at the University of North Carolina Gillings School of Global Public Health.