Fall Prevention Awareness Week began September 21st, the first day of fall, to promote and increase public awareness about how to prevent and reduce falls among older adults. Falls are currently the leading cause of injury deaths among persons over 65.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an older adult is treated in a hospital emergency room for a fall every 18 seconds, and every 35 minutes an older adult dies as a result of a fall-related injury. Fall-related injuries for people over 65 cost over $19 billion annually. If the current rate of falls among seniors is not reduced, fall-related treatment costs will reach $43.8 billion annually by 2020, according to estimates by the CDC. In New York State, about 1.7% of people age 65 and older, or more than 42,000 people, were hospitalized through the ER because of a fall.
Falls by older adults are a leading cause of injuries, hospitalizations, decreased quality of life and decreased independence. Falls accounted for approximately 16,000 deaths and 1.8 million emergency room visits in 2005, the latest numbers available. Falls also increase the fear of falling, causing further muscle atrophy, lack of balance and the likelihood of falling again, and admission to nursing homes and deaths. Some of the serious injuries associated with falls include traumatic brain injury and hip fracture. Twenty percent of older adults who have a hip fracture die within a year.
"Injury and death due to falls is a serious public health problem that directly affects our seniors and their family members,” said Michael J. Burgess, Director of the New York Office for the Aging. "Efforts to prevent falls are critically important to reduce the morbidity rate due to falls, improve quality of life for older New Yorkers, and reduce costs,” he said.
Director Burgess continued: "The message of the fall prevention week is that falls are preventable if individuals are aware of risk factors and take the necessary steps to eliminate them. Those steps include learning the facts, making necessary environmental modifications and improving balance through exercise."
The three primary risk factors for falling are: taking more than four prescription medications, having muscle weakness, and having poor balance. Those with vision problems and fear of falling are also at heightened risk.
During this week, fall prevention coalitions and health and senior service agencies will celebrate Fall Prevention Awareness Week by holding presentations, health fairs, and demonstrations to raise awareness among older persons and their families about the seriousness of falls and ways to reduce fall risk to stay active and fit. For more information visit http://www.cdc.gov/homeandrecreationalsafety/falls/index.html
