Fall Prevention & Recovery Support in Lehigh Valley

Nearly 30% of older adults in PA reported a fall in the last year.

It’s estimated that 20% of falls result in a serious injury. They’re the most common cause of traumatic brain injuries. We’re here to help prevent injuries from events like falls before they occur, because the older adults in our community deserve to feel confident moving through daily life. We are proud to announce our partnership with Able Care! Their Able Assess offers a quick strength screening. This is a simple way to understand mobility factors that can influence fall risk and identify areas to strengthen.

Who Is Able Care?

Able Care is a science-led fall prevention platform, launched at Imperial College London. Researchers Dr. Paul Rinne and Dr. Mike Mace established the platform in 2017 to gain insight into patients with arm weakness and help rehabilitate arm movement. Their goal was to measure grip strength, improve hand strength, and support independence. The platform is HIPAA-aligned, General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) compliant, and CDC STEADI (Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths, and Injuries) aligned. Now, their offerings include:

• Able Assess: Includes a falls prevention application that assesses strength and falls risk, as well as a grip strength application
• Able Rehab: Neurorehabilitation trains hand and wrist movements through activities and goal tracking
• The GripAble Sensor: 1 sensor that measures grip strength in addition to balance, leg strength, and gait speed in under 5 minutesto assess risk of falling

What Is the GribAble Sensor?

Here at Griswold, we use Able Care’s GribAble Sensor to measure grip strength. This gives us powerful insights into an individual’s vitality and overall health. A 2024 article from the Journal of Health, Population and Nutrition found evidence that hand grip strength is an important biomarker that can help identify diverse health issues. They saw that low grip strength is correlated with several diseases, like cardiovascular disease, certain cancers, fragility fractures, and strokes. Their studies showed that low grip strength is associated with more hospitalizations and poor quality of life.

The measurement of grip strength in aging patients provides a fast, noninvasive gauge of functional health. Grip strength is just one of the four areas we assess with the GribAble Sensor. We also look at these key areas:

• Chair Stand: Looks at lower-body strength—important for getting up safely and maintaining stability
• Timed Up & Go: Observes balance and mobility during an everyday “stand, walk, turn, sit” movement pattern
• Gait Speed: Measures walking pace, which is often linked with functional independence

Using the GribAble device and these simple movement checks, we can guide strength assessment screenings and assess the risk of falling.

What Else Can I Do to Prevent Falls?

In addition to assessing your or your loved one’s risk of falling, home safety is an important part of fall prevention, too. If you’re looking to upgrade the safety of your home, such as improving lighting, check out Aykroyd Hardware in Bethlehem, PA. Another option is TruBlue of Easton, where seniors can hire a handyman for help with home repairs. They can install safety features like grab bars in the bathroom.

Where Can I Find In-Home Care?

Our team is committed to our community in and around Allentown, Bethlehem, and Easton. We can help you and your loved ones maintain independence and live where you love to be: at home. If you’re looking for door-to-door transportation, a live-in home caregiver, personal care, or respite care, or have other non-medical in-home needs, we’re here to help. We can even schedule a fall risk screening at your facility. Click the button below to contact us!