Key points
- Falls can be prevented.
- Falls among adults 65 and older caused over 38,000 deaths in 2021, making it the leading cause of injury death for that group.1
- In 2021, emergency departments recorded nearly 3 million visits for older adult falls.1
Falls can be prevented
Falls are a threat to the health of older adults and can reduce their ability to remain independent. However, falls don't have to be inevitable as you age. You can reduce your chance of falling or help a loved one prevent falls. There are proven ways to reduce and prevent falls, even for older adults. We identify older adults as anyone 65 years and older. CDC uses data and research to help prevent falls and save lives.
Take the Falls Free Checkup
Take the Falls Free Checkup.
Health care providers are encouraged to visit the STEADI site to learn more about CDC's initiative to help reduce fall risk among your older patients.
Visit the Still Going Strong site to learn how you can age without injury.
Resources
Resources
- MyMobility Plan (English | Spanish | Tribal) [8 pages]
- Medicines Risk: Are Your Medicines Increasing Your Risk of a Fall or Car Crash?
- Transportation Safety: Older Adult Drivers
- Concussions and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
- Elder Abuse Prevention
Articles
- A Descriptive Analysis of Location of Older Adult Falls that Resulted in Emergency Department Visits in the U.S., 2015 (American Journal of Lifestyle Living, August 2020)
- Trends in Nonfatal Falls and Fall-related Injuries Among Adults Aged ≥65 Years—U.S., 2012–2018 (MMWR, July 2020)
- Fall-related Emergency Department Visits Involving Alcohol Among Older Adults (Journal of Safety Research, June 2020)
Content Source:
National Center for Injury Prevention and Control
- 1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. Web–based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS) [online].
- 2. Florence CS, Bergen G, Atherly A, Burns ER, Stevens JA, Drake C. Medical Costs of Fatal and Nonfatal Falls in Older Adults. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. 2018 Apr;66(4):693–698. DOI:10.1111/jgs.15304.