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Why are falls a serious risk for the elderly?

On Behalf of | Nov 6, 2020 | Personal Injury |

It is not a myth that a fall can be seriously damaging for an elderly individual. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that one out of every five falls causes a serious injury, and that figure is for every fall regardless of age. 

When it comes to elderly individuals, it is well-known that a broken hip can cause a serious degradation of the person’s health, often leading to him or her becoming immobile or dying. The CDC explains that 95% of hip fractures are a result of a fall. Furthermore, three million elderly individuals seek treatment every year in the emergency room due to falls. Falls are undeniably a huge risk for individuals over the age of 65. 

Reasons elderly are at risk

Through research, experts know there are some factors that make a person more likely to fall, and these factors often line up with conditions and situations that are common for older adults. Research shows that vision problems, balance issues and lower body weakness are all contributing factors that increase the risk of a person falling. All these are also common in older individuals. 

More risk factors

It is common for older people to have low levels of vitamin D, which happens to be another risk factor for falls. They also often use medications linked to increased risks for falls, such as sedatives and tranquilizers. 

Most often, it is a combination of factors that lead to falls. Since elderly people commonly have more of the risk factors, it naturally increases their chances of suffering a fall. 

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