7 Alarming Facts About Senior Adult Falls and What to Do About It

Falling is not a normal part of the aging process, and yet it happens. According to the National Council on Aging, millions of American seniors suffer falls every year and the consequences are often catastrophic.

Consider these alarming facts:

• One in four Americans aged 65 and older falls every year.
• Every 11 seconds, a senior adult is treated in an emergency room for a fall.
• Every 19 minutes, a senior dies from a fall.
• Falls are the leading cause of fatal injury and the most common cause of non-fatal trauma-related hospital admissions among older adults.
• More than 2.8 million injuries are treated in emergency rooms annually, leading to 800,000 hospitalizations and more than 27,000 deaths.
• In 2015, the total cost of fall injuries was $50 billion, with Medicare and Medicaid shouldering 75 percent of the costs.
• Finally, the total number of falls and the associated financial and personal tolls are expected to increase sharply as the U.S. population continues to skew older due to aging Baby Boomers. 

However, it’s important to know that most falls are actually preventable. Through education, practical lifestyle changes and evidence-based fall prevention programs held across the country, adult children of aging seniors and older adults themselves can dramatically reduce the risks that lead to falling. 

The National Council on Aging brings all of these elements together for free, every September during Fall Prevention Awareness Day. The event promotes awareness and offers widespread support to both seniors and their family members. Much of the information will also remain on the organization’s website year-round.

Unfortunately, some risk-scenarios cannot be planned for or avoided, such as negligence on the part of a property owner. Failure to clean up a spill or repair damage can cause a fall at any age, though seniors are particularly vulnerable. In any case, education, prevention and knowing an aging parent’s rights in the event a fall occurs is extremely important. 

These are just a few important facts about the severity of falling as a senior. If you are in need of advice, or are ready to start planning to protect your senior loved one, do not wait to contact us to schedule an appointment.