Facts About Falls
Each year one in every three adults 65 and older will fall (Hausdorff,Rios,&,Edelber, 2001). In 2009 2.2 million nonfatal fall injuries were treated in emergency rooms (CDC,2010). In 2007 more than 18,000 older adults died from non intentional fall injuries. Among those 65 and older, falls are the leading cause of injury death. They are also the most common cause of nonfatal injuries and hospital admissions for trauma (CDC,2010). In 2000, the direct medical costs attributed to falls was a little over $19 billion (Stevens, Corso, Finkelstein, & Miller, 2006)
- Men are more likely to fall compared to women
- Women are more likely to be injured in a fall
- Each year one in every three adults 65 and older will fall
- Falls are the most common cause of traumatic brain injury
- People who fall may develop a fear of falling, which may decrease their physical activity in turn leading to more falls
