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Our Expert on Healthy Aging
Q: How common are falls among older people?Ask Our Expert About Preventing Falls in Elderly People About Our ExpertRobert D. Barraco, M.D., is chief of geriatric trauma and a surgeon with Lehigh Health Network's Surgical Specialists of the Lehigh Valley.
Q: How common are falls among older people?A: According to the National Safety Council, 30,000 people age 65 and older fall each week. Nearly 250 of those people die and one-third are disabled for the rest of their lives. In Pennsylvania, 71 percent of all trauma center admissions among people age 65 and older are due to falls. Q: Why are falls especially dangerous for the elderly?A: Older people tend to have accompanying illnesses, such as osteoporosis and dementia, and also other physical conditions, like worsening vision and slower reflexes that can make falls more likely – and more dangerous. For example, when people with osteoporosis fall, they’re more likely to break bones. And if an older person needs surgery after a fall, an existing condition like chronic heart or lung disease can increase the risk of that surgery. Even if patients don’t need surgery, they may not have the reserve they need to recover from the injury. Q: What can older people and their caregivers do to prevent falls?A: Though not totally unavoidable, there are some steps you can take to reduce your or a loved one’s risk of falling:
This page last updated 10/14/08 11:05 PM
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