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The SmartCells CEO had a product with cushioning technology, born out of legislation to improve playground safety and now utilized to help workers experiencing fatigue when standing at their jobs or athletes who need more cushioning for plyometrics.
Then, his aging mother-in-law took a fall, and the pieces came together.
“We realized that, here, we had this company that I’m running that could provide some protection for her if she should fall again,” Betteridge said.
She did suffer another fall but had her injuries mitigated by the SmartCells technology, later passing of unrelated causes.
Sadly, the story of overcoming a fall is not what many senior adults in the United States experience.
“Falls are the leading cause of death from injuries amongst seniors over the age of 65. Accidental happenings, falls and injuries, are the leading cause of accidental death for those over 65,” Betteridge said. “That’s a huge statistic. If you do fall, 20% of those who do fall and break a hip or suffer a traumatic brain injury die within six months.”
With SmartCells cushioning technology, however, the falls are less likely to result in an injury that could lead to other complications or something more serious. The cushioning can be placed under several types of flooring to achieve the same effect.
Now that Betteridge has made the connection between his company’s cushioning technology and safety for seniors, many care centers are installing it in their rooms, or families with loved ones moving into those facilities are opting to do their own installation.
