At UMC, supporting independence, confidence, and quality of life is at the heart of everything we do. One way we bring that commitment to life is through the use of innovative senior wellness technology that helps our residents stay active and safe.
UMC’s full-service senior living communities use VSTBalance technology from VirtuSense — a cutting-edge, camera-based system that helps assess balance, gait, and functional movement. This technology allows our wellness and therapy teams to better understand each resident’s mobility, identify potential fall risks, and create personalized fall prevention plans that support long-term independence.
What Is VSTBalance?
VSTBalance is an AI-powered fall risk assessment tool that uses artificial intelligence and machine vision to objectively evaluate how a person moves. Through short, guided assessments, the system measures three key indicators of fall risk in older adults: balance, gait, and function.
Assessments may include:
· Walking toward the camera to evaluate gait speed and step consistency
· Standing balance activities that reveal postural stability
· Sit-to-stand movements that help measure lower-body strength and functional ability
Each assessment produces an easy-to-understand score and visual breakdown, giving both residents and our team a clearer picture of mobility today — and how it changes over time.
Turning Data into Better Care
For Pitman Manor Exercise Physiologist Robert Hoblitzell, VST technology has become an invaluable tool in senior fitness and elder care practice.
Instead of relying on paper assessments or memory, he can quickly compare results from months — or even years — apart, all within the system. That ability to track progress helps guide smarter decisions, whether that means adjusting exercise routines, recommending targeted strengthening, or referring a resident to physical therapy when needed.
“If I see someone struggling with their gait or balance, the data helps confirm it,” Robert explains. “It gives me confidence when I’m recommending next steps, and it helps residents understand what’s going on with their own bodies.”
The technology can even suggest exercises aligned with a resident’s results, helping reinforce consistency between one-on-one sessions and independent activity.
Making Movement Engaging
Beyond assessments, VSTBalance also includes interactive movement games that residents genuinely enjoy. Activities like virtual skiing or balance challenges encourage participants to shift weight, lean side to side, and engage core muscles — often without realizing they’re doing structured exercise.
“Residents really like the games,” Robert says. “They may be unsure at first about what the machine does, but once they try it, they’re usually very receptive. It makes movement feel less intimidating and more fun.”
That engagement matters. When residents are motivated and involved, they’re more likely to keep moving — and small, consistent efforts can make a meaningful difference over time.
Why This Matters at UMC
At UMC, technology is never about replacing human connection — it’s about enhancing it. Tools like VSTBalance support our senior care teams in New Jersey by providing clarity, efficiency, and insight, so they can spend more time doing what matters most: caring for people. It’s part of what sets UMC apart as a leader in senior wellness programs across the region.
For Robert, that’s what makes his role especially rewarding.
“They pay me to keep everybody moving,” he says with a smile. “I just really enjoy helping people and seeing them get better — even in small ways. Exercise doesn’t have to be complicated. It’s about keeping the body in motion and supporting people where they are.”
By combining compassionate care with thoughtful innovation, UMC continues to create environments where residents feel supported, empowered, and confident in their ability to keep moving — today and into the future.
For media inquiries, reach out to Samantha Crawford, Corporate Director of Communications, at SCrawford@umcommunities.org
