Fall Prevention

Visit the Aging Suite this month and read about our series on fall prevention. 

 Falls can have a devastating impact on older individuals.  An April 2004 report by the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of Disability, Aging and Long Term Care Policy, and ABT Associates, Inc, stated that falls are the leading cause of injury deaths in adults 65 and older.  Falls can result in injuries such as wrist and hip fractures, decreased independence with everyday activities, fear of getting around one’s home, or even having to live outside the home with relatives or in a nursing home.    There are however, some simple things you can do to decrease the likelihood of falls in your home.  Some of these things include, having a health care professional check your medications, assessing your home for safety risks, getting your vision checked, and exercising.   Check out this week’s Aging Suite Tip of the week to see what you can do to help decrease the likelihood of falls in your home.  Also, stay tuned for future Aging Suite posts that discuss tips and suggestions that can help reduce the likelihood of falls in your home. 

For information on Aging, check out the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) website, www.cdc.gov

To read the April 2004 report by the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of Disability, Aging and Long Term Care Policy, and ABT Associates, Inc, check out this link, http://aspe.hhs.gov/daltcp/reports/fallexplr.pdf