According to the World Health Organization, almost 700,000 fatal falls occur around the world each year. Equally as concerning is the fact that falls constitute the leading cause of annual unintentional deaths involving injury. Among those who experience such falls, the elderly are at the greatest risk.
This short post will provide a short glimpse into the numbers associated with the elderly, falls around the home, and the greater impacts.
A Snapshot into the Risks
Consider the following figures:
- 10% of falls among the elderly result in an injury that impacts their day to day living, and require attention from the healthcare system.
- Between 20% and 30% of elderly adults who fall will sustain some sort of injury.
- Also, approximately 10% of falls among the elderly result in serious injuries.
- Every year in this country there are more than 3 million emergency room visits arising from an injury sustained in a fall.
- Falls involve a serious risk of hip fracture among the elderly (88% of emergency room visits for hip fractures in 2019 resulted from falls).
- Falling does not only invoke the risk of hip fracture; falls are the leading cause of TBI, or traumatic brain injury.
- Vitamin D deficiency places an individual at risk of falling (and between 26% and 44% of elderly individuals are estimated to be vitamin D-deficient.)
- Falls are the leading cause of death for adults 65 and older, and the risk is increasing.
- More than 25% of elderly adults fall each year (although this number is estimated to be even higher as a result of falls that go unreported).
- Falling itself is a risk factor for recurrent falls; more than 50% of falls among the elderly that occur each year are recurrent. More concerning, falling once makes a subsequent fall more than doubly likely to occur.
- The use of medications is a risk factor; especially if more than 4 medications are taken concurrently.
- The average cost of inpatient medical treatment for injuries sustained during a fall is more than $18,000 per year.
- Impaired vision (and impaired hearing) are both risk factors for falls. Hearing impairment almost triples the risk of a fall.
- Falls alone cost the US healthcare system more than $50 billion annually.
- A 2014 study indicated that the vast majority of falls occur inside the home; almost 75% occur indoors. Among these, falls in the bathroom are the most likely to result in serious injury.
- A third of falls occur due to tripping or slipping.
- Falling creates a dangerous feedback loop, in which those that fall once become afraid of falling again, even if they are not injured the first time. This results in less activity, which makes the affected individual more likely to fall again.
- Between 50% and 75% of nursing home residents fall each year, with most falling more than once (on average).
- Among those 80 and older, 40% fall each year.
- Deaths resulting from falls rose by more than 40% during the period from 2012 to 2021, among those 65 and older.
- Adding railings to the home, reducing slip hazards, and improving overhead lighting can reduce the risk of falls by as much as 38% (at least according to one study). Other assistive devices, like sliding shower transfer benches, can reduce the risk of falling in the bathroom.
- Almost 23% of falls in the home occur in the bathroom.
With all of this being said, falls are not forgone, and falling is not an inevitable risk associated with aging. There are things you can do to help reduce the risk and in some cases even prevent falls entirely.
Countering the Risks
- Daily physical activity is one of the main deterrents of falls among the elderly.
- Replacing loose rugs can help counter the risk, as can eliminating other trip hazards like cords and clutter.
- The use of non-slip mats in bathrooms can help reduce the risk of slipping around the bathroom.
- For the sight impaired, improving lighting in and around the home can reduce the risk of falling.
- For the elderly, as well as for those with mobility issues, the installation of a high-quality sliding shower transfer bench can help reduce the risk of falling in the bathroom.
- Sliding shower transfer benches are not the only assistive devices that can help prevent falls; grab bars and railings, installed in appropriate places (such as in hallways, in stairways, and in the bathroom) can also help.
- Implement a medical alert system; a majority of respondents to a poll reported that a medical alert system either saved them or a loved one from an emergency situation.
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Hopefully you found this short guide helpful, and though the risks are stark, there are things you can do to mitigate them. While you’re looking around for options to improve safety in and around your home, bookmark our page. Our assistive devices, like our sliding shower transfer benches and other bathroom benches, represent an immediate enhancement to bathroom safety and a much more economical alternative to a remodel.
