Canadian Startup WeCare Dynamics Prevents Senior Falls with Proactive, Non-Intrusive Radar Technology

WeCare Dynamics, a Canadian technology startup established in 2023 and headquartered in Alberta, is tackling one of the most critical and costly issues in elder care: fall prevention. CEO Jeffrey Yu, drawing on 15 years of experience as a manager and operator across the spectrum of retirement living, from independent living to long-term care, recognized a systemic failure in current solutions.

“Every 20 minutes, a senior dies from a fall in North America,” Yu noted in a recent interview, emphasizing that falls contribute to the majority of long-term care admissions. He launched WeCare with a team of engineers and public health professors to solve this, adopting an Asian mindset of prevention instead of cure—a principle he argues is often missing in reactive Western medical technologies. The company’s mission is simple: to help seniors and loved ones “age in place” while protecting their independence and dignity.

The Non-Intrusive Advantage: Passive Wellness Monitoring

WeCare Dynamics’ core innovation lies in its use of mmWave radar technology, a highly sensitive, high-frequency radar that detects subtle movements, making it a passive, non-intrusive wellness monitoring tool. Unlike traditional medical alert pendants or watches—which Yu notes are often left on a bedside table when an incident occurs—the WeCare system works 24/7 in the background without requiring any user interaction, charging, or wearing.

The technology’s key advantage is its ability to penetrate darkness and steam, making it fully functional in bathrooms, a high-risk area for falls. Crucially, it detects vital signs like breathing and heart rate in addition to general activity.

“Nobody wants to be under surveillance and watched like a jailmate,” Yu stated, explaining that intrusive cameras and wearables compromise dignity. Instead of waiting for the alarm to trigger after a fall, WeCare detects deteriorating health long before. Yu calls these subtle signs “little insights and tips and crumbs that clue in, hey, grandma’s not doing well.”

For instance, the system tracks nighttime activity patterns, how often a senior visits the washroom, and overall mobility. This data provides insights into the progression of conditions like dementia. Yu cited a client they were able to monitor from slight to severe dementia simply by tracking routine changes, providing reassurance to caretakers who fear seniors wandering or getting lost, especially during cold North American winters.

Read the rest of the report at: https://techsoda.substack.com/p/canadian-startup-wecare-dynamics