Keep on Your Feet—Preventing Older Adult Falls

"Falls are common and costly, especially among Americans age 65 and older. But falls are preventable and do not have to be an inevitable part of aging.

Every second of every day, an older adult (age 65+) suffers a fall in the U.S.—making falls the leading cause of injury and injury death in this age group. One out of four older adults will fall each year in the United States, making falls a public health concern, particularly among the aging population.

Facts About Older Adult Falls

• About 36 million older adults fall each year—resulting in more than 32,000 deaths.
• Each year, about 3 million older adults are treated in emergency departments for a fall injury.
• One out of every five falls causes an injury, such as broken bones or a head injury.
• Each year at least 300,000 older people are hospitalized for hip fractures.
• More than 95% of hip fracturesexternal icon are caused by falling—usually by falling sideways.
• Women fall more often than men and account for three-quarters of all hip fractures.

What You Can Do

Falls are not a normal part of aging. You can keep on your feet and avoid the risk of a fall. Take steps to stay safe and independent longer. Learn what you can do to reduce your chances of falling pdf icon[PDF – 2,367 KB].

A great first step is reading CDC’s Stay Independent brochure pdf icon[PDF – 1,769 KB]. Complete the questionnaire, if you score four or more points, you may be at higher risk for falling.
Older adult falls 

Keep on Your Feet—Preventing Older Adult Falls

"Falls are common and costly, especially among Americans age 65 and older. But falls are preventable and do not have to be an inevitable part of aging.

Every second of every day, an older adult (age 65+) suffers a fall in the U.S.—making falls the leading cause of injury and injury death in this age group. One out of four older adults will fall each year in the United States, making falls a public health concern, particularly among the aging population.

Facts About Older Adult Falls

• Thirty million older adults fall each year—resulting in about 30,000 deaths.
• Each year, 3 million older adultsexternal icon are treated for a fall injury.
• One out of every five fallsexternal icon causes a serious injury, such as broken bones or a head injury.
• Each year at least 300,000 older people are hospitalized for hip fractures.
• More than 95% of hip fracturesexternal icon are caused by falling—usually by falling sideways.
• Women fall more often than men and account for three-quarters of all hip fractures..."
  Older Adult falls

Older adult falls

"Join us this year on September 22, 2018—Falls Prevention Awareness Day (FPAD)—as CDC joins with the National Council on Aging (NCOA) to increase awareness and to help spread the word about how to prevent fall-related injuries and deaths. FPAD is a great opportunity to share information about resources and strategies and how to prevent falls throughout the year.

Falls are Common

More than one in four older adults fall each year. With more than 10,000 Americans turning 65 each day, falls are a growing and significant public health problem. One of the major risk factors for falls is medications that may change the way a person feels or thinks due to side effects. Because four out of every five older adults take at least one prescription medication daily, and more than one third take five or more each day, this common risk factor for falling demands attention.."
Older adult falls

Prevent 350 Fall Fatalities and Stand-Down

"Construction contractors can prevent falls from heights. Plan ahead for safety, provide the right equipment, and train workers to use the equipment safely. Join the National Campaign to Prevent Falls in Construction and Stand-Down.

In 2015, there were 350 fall fatalities out of 937 total fatalities in construction. Those deaths were preventable. There were more fatal injuries in construction than any other industry in the United States in 2014, accounting for nearly 20% of the nation’s 4,679 work-related deaths that year. (See Chart). Falls account for 35% of the work-related deaths suffered by construction workers (See Chart). Almost two-thirds of those fatal falls were from roofs, scaffolds, and ladders..."
Fall fatalities

Take a Stand on Falls

"Every day, more than 10,000 Americans turn age 65. Among this age group, falls are the leading cause of injury, making falls a growing problem for older adults across the nation. These injuries are treated in an emergency department every 13 seconds and claim a life every 20 minutes. Every year, 1 out of 3 older adults falls, yet less than half tell their doctor about it. Although falls pose various health risks—they can be prevented.

Join us on the first day of fall, September 23rd, along with our sponsoring partner, the National Council on Aging (NCOA) Falls Free Initiative to take a stand to prevent falls. Visit the Falls Prevention Awareness DayWeb page and follow the event on social media with the hashtag #FPAD15.Learn more about what communities across the nation are doing to keep older adults healthy, active, and independent longer..."
Falls

Fall Prevention

"We all want to protect our older family members and help them stay safe, secure, and independent. Knowing how to reduce the risk of falling, a leading cause of injury, is a step toward this goal..."
Preventing falls