Slips and Falls Among The Elderly, Accidents Waiting to Happen

At the Request of a Colleauge, I wanted to give you some information about slips and falls among the elderly. I gave a talk on this very topic, and its a much more serious problem than people realize. Unintentional falls are a threat to the lives, independence and health of adults ages 65 and older. Every 18 seconds, an older adult is treated in an emergency department for a fall, and every 35 minutes someone in this population dies as a result of their injuries. Although one in three older adults falls each year in the United States, falls are not an inevitable part of aging. There are proven strategies that can reduce falls and help older adults live better and longer. The CDC has provided a lot of information about this issue, and so I would like to share some of it with you.


The following materials courtesy CDC give an overview of the problem of older adult falls and how they can be prevented.

Fact Sheets

Falls Among Older Adults: An Overview
This fact sheet gives an overview of the problem of falls among older adults in the United States. You will also find prevention tips and links to resources developed by CDC.

Costs of Falls Among Older Adults
This fact sheet describes the costs of falls among older adults - more than $19 billion annually – and includes information on how these costs are calculated and distributed.

Hip Fractures Among Older Adults
More than 90% of hip fractures among adults 65 and older are the result of a fall. This sheet provides information on the number of hip fractures, groups at risk, and prevention tips.

Falls in Nursing Homes
Falls are more common in nursing homes than in the overall community. You can learn about the extent of falls in nursing homes, their causes, and some prevention strategies.

CDC Fall Prevention Activities
This page highlights CDC-sponsored projects aimed at preventing falls among older adults.