Preventing Hip Fractures among Older Adults

Hip fractures are among the most serious injuries an individual can suffer in a slip-trip-and-fall accident. These types of injuries are debilitating and often result in long-term functional impairment, nursing home admission and even fatalities. As the population of the United States ages, it is only more likely that the number of hip fractures suffered as a result of slip-and-fall accidents will increase.
Statistics Relating to Hip Fractures
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2007, there were 281,000 hospital admissions for hip fractures among people aged 65 or older. More than 90 percent of hip fractures are caused by falls, most often by falling sideways onto the hip. Researchers have estimated that by the year 2040, the number of hip fractures per year in the United States could exceed 500,000.
In 1991, Medicare costs for hip fractures were estimated to be $2.9 billion, a number that is likely to have increased significantly today. One out of five hip fracture patients dies within a year of their injury. Hip injury patients often require surgery, hospitalization, extensive rehabilitation and even admission into a nursing home.
Prevention is Key
Avoiding falls can help prevent hip fractures especially among the elderly. First, it helps to exercise regularly because it increases leg strength and improves balance, which can get more challenging with age. Individuals should be well aware of their medications’ side effects, including drowsiness or dizziness. Having one’s vision checked by an eye doctor at least once a year and updating eyeglasses will help maximize vision. Homes should be free of tripping hazards and be equipped with grab bars especially in the bathroom where a number of falls take place.
Compensation for Victims
If you or a loved one has suffered injuries due to a slip-and-fall accident caused by someone else’s negligence, the experienced New York personal injury lawyers at the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm can help you better understand your legal rights and options. Please call our offices 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496) to discuss your slip-and-fall case or trip-and-fall injury or accident case. 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 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: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention