According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one out of three older adults (those aged 65 or older) falls each year.¹ In 2013, 2.5 million nonfatal falls among older adults were treated in emergency departments and more than 734,000 of these patients were hospitalized.² Sadly, among older adults, falls are the leading cause of both fatal and nonfatal injuries.²

The Economic and Non-Economic Costs of Falls

The incidence of falls in the elderly population comes with a high cost, for seniors, for their families and for society in general! In 2013 alone, which is the most recent year when numbers are available, the direct medical costs of falls, adjusted for inflation, were $34 billion.³

But the economic costs are only part of the story. For families who have a loved one who has experienced a fall, the commitment of time and resources can be overwhelming. And the emotional cost for a senior who is a victim of a fall can be significant. Many people who fall, even if they are not injured, develop a fear of falling.⁴ As a result they are inclined to limit their activities, which leads to reduced mobility and loss of physical fitness.⁵

Minimizing Risks to Prevent Falls

It is important to take a number of factors into account when thinking of ways to minimize the risk of falls. First of all, is the person’s physician aware of the incidence of falls for her patients? The American Journal of Preventative Medicine found that of all the seniors who fall, less than half talk to their healthcare providers about it. A second factor contributing to senior falls and accidents is their home environment. Many seniors’ homes are older structures that present safety challenges, including: stairs, narrow stairways and poorly designed bathrooms. Medication is a third variable that can facilitate the event of a fall. Many of the pills prescribed for seniors can have an adverse effect on vision, balance and toileting habits. If vision and/or balance are impaired, an urgent trip to the bathroom increases the risk of an accident significantly.

Tips to Reduce the Risk of Falls

The pressing nature of falls in the senior population has not been lost on policy and programming experts. A number of initiatives have been developed to educate and inform people about best practices. Twelve states have passed legislation supporting activities related to reducing falls among older adults (see National Council of State Legislatures www.ncsl.org).

Here are some steps to prevent falls:

• Get regular checkups to evaluate hearing, vision and blood pressure
• Stay active – regular exercise improves balance and stamina
• Be familiar with the side effects of medications
• Get a good night’s sleep
• Stand up slowly
• Wear appropriate footwear
• Think about getting a monitoring system
• Do a home safety assessment – hire a professional or do your own
  • agingresearchbuffalo.edu
  • mhcc.maryland.gov/consumerinfo

Suggested resources include:

• Eldercare Locator:  www.eldercare.gov
• MedlinePlus:  www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/falls.html
• Center for Injury Prevention and Control:  www.cdc.gov/ncipc

References

1. www.cdc.gov
2. Center for Disease Control & Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention & Control
3. Stevens JA, Corso PS, Finkelstein EA, Miller TR. The costs of fatal and nonfatal falls among older adults. Injury Prevention 2006a;12:290–5.
4. Bell AJ, Talbot-Stern JK, Hennessy A. Characteristics and outcomes of older patients presenting to the emergency department after a fall: a retrospective analysis. Medical Journal of Australia 2000;173(4):176–7.
5. Vellas BJ, Wayne SJ, Romero LJ, Baumgartner RN, Garry PJ. Fear of falling and restriction of mobility in elderly fallers. Age and Ageing 1997;26:189–193.
6. Stevens 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.