The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that one in every three adults aged 65 and older suffers a fall-related injury. It is a fact that falls can result in serious, life-changing injuries such as hip fractures and head trauma. It can also increase the risk of death for the elderly. Among older adults, falls are the leading cause of both fatal and nonfatal injuries. In 2010, 2.3 million nonfatal fall injuries among seniors were treated in emergency departments and more than 662,000 of these patients were hospitalized. In 2010, the direct medical cost of falls added up to $30 billion.
Injuries and Risk Factors
The CDC estimates that 20 to 30 percent of people who fall suffer moderate to severe injuries such as lacerations, hip fractures or head trauma. These types of injuries can make it difficult for the elderly to be mobile or independent. Falls are also the most common cause of brain injuries for any age group. Often fractures among older adults are caused by falls. The most common locations for fractures associated with falls are those involving the spine, hip, forearm, leg, ankle, pelvis, upper arm and hand.
Five Tips to Help Prevent Falls
Here are five tips that can help prevent falls among older adults:
• Have your vision checked regularly. Poor vision can impair older adults and cause them to slip or trip and fall.
• Review all your medications and their effects with your doctor at every visit. If a medication can cause drowsiness, make sure that you are not walking after taking that medication.
• Wear shoes that have proper tread as well as a good grip. Use a cane, walker or other device if necessary. If you do use a device, make sure you know how and when to use it.
• Make your living space safe by improving lighting, removing clutter and taking out slippery throw rugs.
• Maintain your health. Keep active with senior yoga, tai chi or other exercises that can help improve your balance, strength and flexibility.
Compensation for Fall Victims
If you or a loved one has suffered injuries because of a slip-and-fall or a trip-and-fall accident, the experienced New York personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm can help you better understand your legal rights and options. Our law firm recovered $1,700,000 for a woman who slipped and fell and received no hospital care or medical treatment for one month after the accident. Please call our offices TOLL FREE 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496) to discuss your slip-and-fall or trip-and-fall injury case. WE CAN EVEN COME TO YOU. There is no attorneys’ fee unless we recover money for you. We can also help with personal injury cases in New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida. If you have been seriously injured in any of the 50 U.S. states, please call us and we will try to help you with your case.
Other TOLL FREE phone numbers for us are:
1-800-RADIO-LAW, 1-888-WYPADEK, OR 1-800-LAS-LEYES
Please visit us at: www.WORK4YOULAW.com
Source: CDC
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