Fall Prevention
Falls remain one of the leading causes of emergency room visits for injury here in Mecklenburg County. These falls typically can be broken into 3 major categories--children, work-related, and seniors.
How big is the problem?
- More than one third of adults 65 and older fall each year in the United States.
- Among older adults, falls are the leading cause of injury deaths. They are also the most common cause of nonfatal injuries and hospital admissions for trauma (CDC 2006).
- In 2005, 15,800 people 65 and older died from injuries related to unintentional falls; about 1.8 million people 65 and older were treated in emergency departments for nonfatal injuries from falls, and more than 433,000 of these patients were hospitalized (CDC 2008).
- The rates of fall-related deaths among older adults rose significantly over the past decade (Stevens 2006).
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).
How can older adults prevent falls?
Older adults can take several steps to protect their independence and reduce their risk of falling. They can:
- Exercise regularly; exercise programs like Tai Chi that increase strength and improve balance are especially good.
- Ask their doctor or pharmacist to review their medicines—both prescription and over-the counter—to reduce side effects and interactions.
- Have their eyes checked by an eye doctor at least once a year.
- Improve the lighting in their home.
- Reduce hazards in their home that can lead to falls.
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