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ELDERLY FALL PREVENTION
Health Risks/Morbidity and Mortality
As previously mentioned there were 1,850,649 falls among people 65+ and 13,701 death in 2004. Common injuries are fractures of hip, spine, arm, wrist, and pelvis, as well as concussions, lacerations, and bruises. Ten to twenty-five percent of fall victims seek medical care and 5% of the people who fall require hospitalization. One study found that falls were a major factor in 40% of nursing home admissions.[4] Half of all people with hip fractures cannot return home to live independently.[10]
CDC Facts: “Hip Fractures Among Older Adults”[11]
Traumatic Brain Injuries can Result from Senior Falls [12]
Traumatic brain injuries are a serious consequence of falls. CDC data found there were 56,000 hospitalizations and 8,000 deaths due to fall-related traumatic brain injuries.
- Death rates for fall-related TBIs were higher among men than women (26.9 per 100,000 and 17.8 per 100,000, respectively).
- Rates for fall-related TBI hospitalizations were similar among men and women (146.3 per 100,000 and 158.3 per 100,000, respectively).
- Death and hospitalization rates for fall-related TBIs generally increased with age.
- The majority of men and women hospitalized with a fall-related TBI spent two to six days in the hospital (54.9 percent of men; 61.5 percent of women).
- The median total charges for these hospitalizations were $19,191 for men and $16,006 for women.
Another outcome is a “fear of falling.” Whether the person has experienced a fall or has noticed that his or her mobility has declined, the fear of falling restricts activity and may lead to a loss of independence. “Fear of falling” has lead to the development of clinical and research tools that measure how significant a person’s is and how much it is impacting daily life.[4]
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