The statistics are staggering.  Every year, millions of older adults fall at home.  Falls are the leading cause of injury-related emergency room visits, hospitalizations and deaths.  People age 75 and older who fall are four to five times more likely than those age 65 to 74 to be admitted to a long-term care facility for a year or longer.  And, the death rates from falls of older men and women has sharply risen over the past decade.

Find out what you can do to prevent a serious fall and download our free fall prevention checklist below.

Falls Are Serious and Costly

• One out of five falls causes a serious injury such as broken bones or a head injury
• Each year, 3 million older people are treated in emergency rooms for fall injuries
• Over 800,000 patients a year are hospitalized because of a fall injury, most often because of a head injury or hip fracture
• Each year at least 300,000 older people are hospitalized for hip fractures
• More than 95% of hip fractures are caused by falling, usually by falling sideways
• Falls are the most common cause of traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
• In 2015, the total medical costs for falls totaled more than $50 billion.11 Medicare and Medicaid shouldered 75% of these costs

What Conditions Make You More Likely to Fall?

Research has identified many conditions that contribute to falling. These are called risk factors. Many risk factors can be changed or modified to help prevent falls. They include:

• Weakness
• Deficiency of Vitamin D 
• Difficulties with walking and balance
• Medications, such as tranquilizers, sedatives, or antidepressants. Even some over-the-counter medicines can affect balance and how steady you are on your feet.
• Problems with vision 
• Foot pain or poor footwear
• Home hazards or dangers such as
  • broken or uneven steps, and
  • throw rugs or clutter that can be tripped over.

Most falls are caused by a combination of risk factors. The more risk factors a person has, the greater their chances of falling.

Healthcare providers can help cut down a person’s risk by reducing the fall risk factors listed above.

Falls Are Preventable

Falls are almost always preventable.  Don’t be a statistic!  Please download this free senior fall prevention checklist to help you find and fix those fall hazards in your home.