 A Tool
Kit to Prevent Senior Falls
Designed for fall prevention programs, A Tool Kit To Prevent
Senior Falls includes fact sheets, graphs, and brochures about falls and fall prevention for
older adults. Introduction
For millions of older Americans, falls present a
serious health risk. In the United States, one of every three persons
age 65 and older falls each year. Among older adults, falls are the
leading cause of injury deaths and the most common cause of injuries
and hospital admissions for trauma. In 1997, about 9,000 seniors died
of fall-related injuries. The total direct cost of fall injuries in
1994 among people 65 and older was $20.2 billion. And the number of
people over age 65 is expected to increase from 31.0 million in 1990
to 68.1 million by 2040.
Fractures are the most serious health consequence of
falls. Eighty-seven percent of all fractures among older adults are
due to falls. Approximately 250,000 hip fractures, the most serious
fracture, occur each year among people over age 65. Half of all older
people hospitalized for hip fractures cannot return home or live
independently after their injury.
Many of these falls and resulting injuries can be
prevented. Strategies to prevent falls among older adults include
exercises to improve strength, balance, and flexibility; reviews of
medications that may affect balance; and home modifications that
reduce fall hazards such as installing grab bars, improving lighting,
and removing items that may cause tripping.
The Tool Kit to Prevent Senior
Falls has current technical information and
materials about falls and fall-related injuries that can be used on an
individual basis or incorporated into health promotion activities
aimed at reducing falls among older adults.
Fact Sheets
Brochures
- What YOU
Can Do To Prevent Falls
- Check For Safety: A
Home Fall Prevention Checklist for Older Adults
Figures
Maps
|
