April 1999

Preventive Home Modification

The Key to Healthy Living

• More people are injured in their own homes than anywhere else.
• Each year, in the United States, one out of every three people older than age 65 falls.
• Falls are the most common cause of injuries and hospital admissions for trauma among the elderly.
• In 1995, more than 7,700 people over the age of 65 died as a result of a fall.
• For people aged 65-84, falls are the 2nd leading cause of injury-related death, for people 85 years and older, falls are the leading cause of injury-related death.
• Falls account for 87% of all fractures among people 65 and older.
• Each year in the United States, 1 person in 20 receive emergency room care due to a fall.
• About 240,000 hip fractures occur among those 50 years and older.
• Half of all seniors hospitalized for hip fracture cannot return home or live independently.

References:
NCIPC.National Summary of Injury Mortality Data, 1988-1994. Altanta, GA: Center for Disease Control and Prevention. 1996.

Tinetti ME, Speechley M, Ginter SF. Risk Factors for falls among elderly persons living in the community. N Engl J Med 1989;320(16):1055-9.

Sattin RW. Falls among older persons: A public health perspective. Annu Rev Public Health 1992; 13:489-508.

Scott JC. Osteoporosis and hip fractures. Rheum Dis Clin North Am 1990; 16(3):717-40.