How Dangerous is a Fall?
Let’s start with a few statistics, One in three adults over age 65 falls each year – falls are the most common cause of non fatal injuries and hospital admissions.1
- In 2010, 2.3 million non-fatal injuries were treated in this age group with 662,000 of these patients hospitalised.1
- Falls were the most common cause of traumatic brain injuries in the year 2000. 46% of these were fatal among older adults.2
- Men are more likely than women to die from a fall. After taking age into account, the fall death rate in 2009 was 34% higher for men than that of women.1
- Over 95% of hip fractures are caused by falls3
- 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.4
What can individuals do?
To lower their hip fracture risk, older adults can:
- Get adequate calcium and vitamin D—from food and/or from supplements.
- Do weight bearing exercise regularly.
- Get screened and, if needed, treated for osteoporosis.
- Eliminate trip hazards (see separate recommendations)
References:
1Hornbrook MC, Stevens VJ, Wingfield DJ, Hollis JF, Greenlick MR, Ory MG, Preventing falls among community – dwelling older persons: results from a randomised trial. The Gerontologist 1944:34(1):16-23
2Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS) [online]. Accessed November 30, 2010.
3National Hospital Discharge Survey (NHDS), National Center for Health Statistics. Available at:www.cdc.gov/nchs/hdi.htm. Assessed September 14, 2011
4Stevens JA, Dellinger AM. Motor vehicle and fall related deaths among older Americans 1990–98: sex, race, and ethnic disparities. Injury Prevention 2002;8:272–5.