We’ve all heard the story, “I don’t know what happened. I was standing up one second and on the floor the next! I guess I just slipped!” Falling down only takes a second, but can be a life-changing event with serious consequences. Seniors are often surprised that falls occur so frequently and shocked that the effects of a fall can be so severe. Falls are the single leading cause of unintentional injury for people over the age of 60.
Falls are not just a natural consequence of getting older. You can take steps today to reduce your risk of falling. This website outlines fall risks and ways to prevent falls from occurring.
Facts on Falls
- Thirty percent (30%) of people over the age of 65 will fall each year. That number increases to fifty percent for people over the age of 85!
- Falls are the leading cause of injury-related hospitalizations among older adults.
- Nearly twice as many older Minnesotans die annually from falls than from motor vehicle accidents.
- Minnesota has the second highest rate of fall-related injuries and deaths annually in the nation. Only Wisconsin fares worse.
- Ninety percent (90%) of hip fractures treated annually in the U.S. occur as a result of a fall.
Why is this so important?
- The U.S. spends an estimated 20.2 billion dollars annually on fall treatment.
- Falls are mentioned as a contributing factor in forty percent of nursing home admissions
- Half of all older people who are hospitalized for a hip fracture do not attain their prior level of mobility and twenty percent die from further complications within one year of injury.
- Falls that do not lead to injury often begin a downward spiral of fear. Many people fear another fall and limit activities. Inactivity leads to a decrease in strength, agility, and balance that often results in a loss of independence or another fall.
To learn more about how you can protect yourself or a loved one from a fall, click the links below:
Ridges Hospital Home 
Community Health 
Keeping in Balance 
