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Preventing Falls in Seniors
Falls are one of the most complex injury issues facing seniors. There has been unprecedented momentum and interest in preventing falls in seniors over the past decade in Canada.
The human suffering and the financial costs of falls and fall-related injuries among Saskatchewan seniors is daunting. Saskatchewan’s injury hospitalization rate and death rate are higher than the national average.
The data collected reveals that:
- In Canada, falls are the second leading cause, after motor vehicle collisions, of injury-related hospitalizations for all ages, accounting for 29% of injury admissions.(1)
- In Saskatchewan, falls are the most costly injury totalling over $125 million or 49% of total direct costs.(2)
- In Saskatchewan, 82% of the direct cost of older adult injuries is attributable to falls.(2)
- Almost 62% of injury related hospitalizations for senior’s are the result of falls.(1)
- The fall-related injury rate is nine times greater among seniors than among those less than 65 years of age.(1)
- Almost half of seniors who fall experience a minor injury, and approximately 40% of falls leading to hospitalization are the result of hip fractures.(2)
- Falls cause more than 90% of all hip fractures in seniors and 20% die within a year of the fracture.(1)
- The magnitude of the problem of falls among older adults is reflected in the 300% increase in publications on the issue between 1985 and 2005.(1)
The issue of preventing falls in seniors is being addressed by many local healthcare providers, health promotion specialists and injury prevention organizations.
Report on Senior’s Falls in Canada, Public Health Agency of Canada 2005
The Economic Burden of Unintentional Injury in Saskatchewan, SmartRisk 2001
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