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The app screens for both personal and home-environment risk factors and gives instant, personalized advice. It is now available on iOS and Android.

Researchers at Walailak University (WU) have developed “IE Fall Risk,” a mobile application that assesses and helps prevent falls among older adults. It covers both individual risk factors and hazards in the home, and provides personalized recommendations to reduce the risk of falling. The app is now available to the public for download on iOS and Android.

Asst. Prof. Dr. Charupa Lektip, a lecturer in the Physical Therapy program at WU’s School of Allied Health Sciences, said falls among older adults are a serious concern that affects health and quality of life. They can lead to injuries, fractures and disability, and place a burden on families and the public health system.

She explained that fall risk is not determined by physical condition alone. Hazards at home, such as slippery floors, poor lighting and obstacles, also play a role. Traditional risk assessments are usually carried out by staff at healthcare facilities, which limits access in local communities.

To address this gap, Dr. Charupa and colleagues from WU’s Movement Science and Exercise Research Center (MoveSE) and the Informatics Innovation Center of Excellence, headed by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Charlee Kaewrat, developed the app to bring both types of assessment into one platform. It includes a physical assessment based on the Thai version of the Stay Independent brochure and a 44-item home environment assessment based on the Thai-HFHAT. Once users enter their information, the system processes it and automatically generates personalized recommendations for reducing risk.

 

Dr. Charupa said the app is both convenient and reliable. In System Usability Scale testing, it achieved an average score of 85.2, which falls in the “excellent” range, and it showed good test-retest reliability. She added that the app reflects the university’s commitment to creating positive social impact. It can help village health volunteers and health personnel screen older adults, prioritize care and plan home modifications to make living spaces safer. The app is already being piloted with health personnel and older adults in Thasala District, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province. 

In the next phase, the research team plans to make the app easier for older adults to use by adding larger text, audio narration and tutorial videos. The team also aims to expand pilot testing to other communities. It is working with the WU Science and Technology Park to register the software’s copyright and file for a petty patent.

The research was funded by the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (Young Lecturer Research Capacity Development Grant, fiscal year 2025). Additional support came from the Center for Scientific and Technological Equipment at Walailak University, the MoveSE Research Center, and the Physical Therapy program at the School of Allied Health Sciences.

Older adults, caregivers and members of the public can download “IE Fall Risk” here:
• iOS: https://apps.apple.com/th/app/ie-fall-risk/id6751548062?l=th
• Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=dev.appsetup.iefallrisk&hl=en

Photos courtesy of School of Allied Health Sciences
News by Chonthicha Limpiti, english version translated and edited by Settaboot Onphakdee, Division of Corporate Communications