Tag: preventative care

Preventing Falls during the Winter Months

The winter weather accompanies the increased risk of falls.  We can minimize fall risk by eliminating some environmental obstacles.
Some of these obstacles are:
  • Dim lighting
  • Slippery surfaces
  • Clutter or pets
  • Inadequate stair design
  • Improper use of mobility devices

 

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports the following statistics:

  • One-fourth of Americans aged 65+ falls each year.
  • Every 11 seconds, an older adult is treated in the emergency room for a fall.
  • Every 19 minutes, an older adult dies from a fall.
  • Falls are the leading cause of fatal injury and the most common cause of nonfatal trauma-related hospital admissions among older adults.
  • Falls result in more than 2.8 million injuries treated in emergency departments annually, including over 800,000 hospitalizations and more than 27,000 deaths.
  • In 2013, the total cost of fall injuries was $34 billion.
  • The financial toll for older adult falls is expected to increase as the population ages and may reach $67.7 billion by 2020.