Fall Prevention

Falls are a major threat to the health and independence of older adults, people aged 65 and older. Each year in the United States, nearly one-third of older adults experience a fall.

Approximately one out of ten falls among older adults result in a serious injury, such as a hip fracture or head injury, that requires hospitalization. In addition to the physical and emotional pain, many people need to spend at least a year recovering in a long-term care facility. Some never return to their homes.  Falls are the leading cause of injury deaths among older adults. The rate of fall-related deaths among older adults in the United States has risen significantly over the past decade. In 2005, falls were responsible for 15,800 deaths.

Who is at risk?

• Men are more likely to die from a fall. After adjusting for age, the fall fatality rate in 2004 was 49% higher for men than for women (CDC 2005).

• Women are 67% more likely than men to have a nonfatal fall injury (CDC 2006).

• Rates of fall-related fractures among older adults are more than twice as high for women as for men (Stevens et al. 2005).

• In 2003, about 72% of older adults admitted to the hospital for hip fractures were women (CDC 2005).

• The risk of being seriously injured in a fall increases with age. In 2001, the rates of fall injuries for adults 85 and older were four to five times that of adults 65 to 74 (Stevens et al. 2005)

• Nearly 85% of deaths from falls in 2004 were among people 75 and older (CDC 2006).

There are four important strategies that can reduce your risk for falls:

• Exercise

• Medication Management

• Vision

• Home Modification