St. Petersburg Accident Blog

Fall Accidents Among Senior Citizens in Florida

Falls can be serious and every year thousands of senior citizens are injured by these accidents.  According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than one third of adults age 65 and older fall each year in the United States.  The problem is so severe that falls are the leading cause of injury deaths among senior citizens and the most frequent cause of nonfatal injuries and hospitalizations.

How many older adults are affected by fall accidents?  The CDC reports that 15,800 people 65 and older died from fall injuries and 1.8 million were treated in emergency departments for nonfatal injuries from falls in 2007.  Among those injured, 433,000 were hospitalized.  The number of deaths caused by falls has increased dramatically over the last decade.

According to the CDC, 20 to 30 percent of fall victims sustain moderate to severe injuries, including bruises, hip fractures and head traumas.  Falls are also considered to be the leading cause of traumatic brain injuries.  In 2000, traumatic brain injuries accounted for 46 percent of fatal falls among senior citizens. 

Statistics show that men are more likely to die from a fall than women, but women are more likely to sustain a nonfatal fall injury.  Older women are twice as likely to suffer from a fall-related fracture as men in the same age group.

Even when an older adult is not injured in a fall accident, he or she may still experience emotional stress, as a fear of falling develops.  This fear can cause older adults to restrict their activities, which can lead to reduced mobility and physical fitness.

*Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Falls Among Older Adults: An Overview