Every year 3 million Americans over the age of 65 experience a fall. That is more than one out of every four seniors living in the U.S. One out of every five of these falls results in a broken bone or head injury. In fact 95% of hip fractures to seniors occur from falls and 800,000 seniors are hospitalized every year from falls. The total medical costs of this burden of injury in 2015 was more than $50 million.

There are a number of contributing factors that can put seniors at risk for falls. These risk factors can be modified to help prevent falls, they are:

Lower Body Weakness, Vitamin D Deficiency, Difficulties with Walking & Balance, Use of Medicines that Affect Balance, Vision Problems, Foot Pain or Poor Footwear, Home Hazards like Broken or Uneven Steps, Clutter affecting Walking or Throw Rugs that can cause tripping. Most falls involve several of these risk factors and healthcare providers can help a person to cut down on these risk factors.

For falls to be prevented it is important to get a fall risk screening by a medical provider. Get a medication review conducted by the provider or by a Pharmacist to determine if any could make you dizzy or sleepy and ask if vitamin D supplements are right for you. Active exercise that makes the legs stronger and improves balance is also helpful prevention. Have eyes and eyesight and eyewear prescriptions checked and updated once a year.

It is also important to make the home safe to in order to reduce fall risk. This means getting rid of things that could be tripped over or that limit space to move easily from room to room in the home. Adding securely wall anchored and stable grab bars at the bath tub or shower stall and the toilet. Add hand railings on both sides of stairways. Ensure good lighting in the home, night lights to assist seeing to get to the bathroom during the night. Store items that get used regularly in easy to access storage cabinets. Use non slip mats in the bath or shower floor to avoid falls while bathing.

Falls caused 34,000 deaths for seniors in 2019, the leading cause of injury death for this age group. And falls can cause seniors to lose their ability to live independently. Though falls do not have to be an inevitable reality because there are many preventative ways we already discussed that can prevent fall risks. So if you or someone you know is age 65 or over this is a good time to talk about fall risks with a medical provider and begin the screening and risk factors identification process to learn the proven prevention steps that reduce fall risks.