There are so many special “days” and “weeks” now that it is easy to gloss over the ones that truly should command our attention. Among that later group is Falls Prevention Awareness Week, which runs from September 22 to September 26. The facts around older adults and falls are jarring:
Fourteen million, or 1 in 4 Americans age 65+, fall each year.
Falls are the leading cause of fatal and non-fatal injuries among older adults.
In 2021, falls caused 38,000 deaths among those age 65+, and emergency departments reported 3 million visits due to older adult falls.
The cost of treating injuries caused by falls among older adults is projected to increase to over $101 billion by 2030.
Falls of course have direct physical impact, but they also have lasting psychological and health consequences. According to the CDC, “Many people who fall, even if they're not injured, become afraid of falling. This fear may cause a person to cut down on their everyday activities. When a person is less active, they become weaker, and this increases their chances of falling.”
Fortunately, many falls are preventable, through better habits around balance and small changes including better footwear. Check out suggestions here.