While falls are a threat to the health and independence of older adults and can significantly limit their ability to remain self-sufficient, the opportunity to reduce falls among older adults has never been better. Today, there are proven interventions that can reduce falls and help older adults live better, and longer.
National Data & Statistics
Rate of Nonfatal, Medically Consulted Fall Injury Episodes, by Age Group
In 2010, the overall rate of nonfatal fall injury episodes for which a health-care professional was contacted was 43 per 1,000 population. Persons aged ≥75 years had the highest rate (115).
Reference Information
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
1600 Clifton Rd. Atlanta, GA 30333, USA
800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636)
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What is the rate of Elderly Falls in Utah?
Since 2008, the State of Utah Trauma registry has included ground level falls in the elderly resulting in traumatic injuries. This change in inclusion criteria is reflected in the variance between 2011 data and the 10-year average.
With the aging of our “Baby Boomer” population, we are seeing the number of falls with injury increase every year.
There is a strong correlation between falls in the elderly and hip fractures. Previously, the State of Utah did not collect isolated hip fracture information in our Trauma Registry Databank. The average number of hip fractures included in the registry between 2001 and 2007 was 261 females and 234 males per year. Since the change in inclusion criteria, those averages have increased to 1,553 females and 568 males per year. This dramatic change also helps explain the narrowing of the gender gap noted in Figure 5, since significantly more women than men have been treated for hip fractures since 2008.
