Older adults in the US are increasingly dying from unintentional falls

[littlemissmartypants]

By MIKE STOBBE
Updated 12:01 AM EDT, June 18, 2025

NEW YORK (AP) — Older U.S. adults are increasingly dying from unintentional falls, according to a new federal report published Wednesday, with white people accounting for the vast majority of the deaths.

From 2003 to 2023, death rates from falls rose more than 70% for adults ages 65 to 74, the report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. The rate increased more than 75% for people 75 to 84, and more than doubled for seniors 85 and older.

“Falls continue to be a public health problem worth paying attention to,” said Geoffrey Hoffman, a University of Michigan researcher who was not involved in the new report. “It’s curious that these rates keep rising.”

The CDC researchers did not try to answer why death rates from falls are increasing. But experts say there may be a few reasons, like gradually improving our understanding of the the role falls play in deaths and more people living longer — to ages when falls are more likely to have deadly consequences.
Snip...
https://apnews.com/article/elderly-adults-falling-death-us-41d7acc0c038ff3d761fba9e00da3b71

[no_hypocrisy]

1. Unfortunately, at a certain age, when you fall, you can break a hip.

A lot of geriatric patients can die from a broken hip.

Also, because of age, you tend to shuffle your feet rather than pick them up and you can trip on rugs and carpets. My mother's friend ended up with four broken ribs due to a fall like that.

Canes and walkers only take you so far.

When my grandfather was having difficulties with walking at age 89, I took him to a shoe store that actually measured his feet. I bought him sneakers that fit him better and were more comfortable and his walking improved.

[Aussie105]

9. I'm 76 and I've become a shuffler.

Yes, it can increase a person's chance of catching a foot on something and going horizontal ungracefully.

I walk the dog daily, on set routes, and know every spot where the footpath is a bit uneven.

One eye on the ground, the other on the dog to avoid tripping over her.

Eternal vigilance is the answer. lol

Good fitting shoes help too. And a cane. Wouldn't leave home without it.

[LiberalLoner]

15. I read that often, the hip breaks and causes the fall, not the other way around. I've read up some about this

Because, being on Letrozole and having osteopenia, I have something like a ten percent chance of that happening to me over the next decade.

[summer_in_TX]

25. After one of his surgeries, my dad's doctor *recommended* he shuffle his feet.

He said he was much less likely to trip and fall that way and might not need to use a walker as soon. So my dad did that from then on.

In his case, there was no carpet to worry about. And he had no falls during the several more years he lived (barring a near fall over a door sill).

I can see though that it would be different for anyone in a home with rugs and carpet. Or steps.

[rzemanfl]

2. There are intentional falls?

I am unfamiliar with self-harm of this nature.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

6. Not self-harm. Bungee jumping, parachute jumping, diving boards, stage diving, . . . . nt

[rzemanfl]

10. Well, I am seventy-seven and know nobody in my age cohort who does

any of those things. Besides, if the bungee cord breaks, or the parachute doesn't open it's unintentional. Jumping off a building or a bridge to end it all would be intentional, but not a fall. I rest my nit-picking case.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

22. I would add semi-controlled falls: "falling into bed", falling onto the couch, falling asleep, falling in love

I know; I'll let myself out.

[sinkingfeeling]

19. Too bad the AP couldn't have used "accidental".

[rzemanfl]

20. I agree and award you the thread

[Ferrets are Cool]

3. Too bad this hasn't happened to a certain someone.

[LiberalLoner]

16. I've never actually heard of that happening to a man...I think osteoporosis is more of a problem for post menopausal women

[purple_haze]

4. Easiest way to prevent this (at any age)

is weight training and a high-protein diet.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

8. Weight training and proper protein diet. High-protein can lead to kidney trouble, I think

But yes, strength training is gaining doctor recommendations for the elderly as it is now being recognized as almost as important as aerobics.

Older patients are advised to be careful to maintain sufficient protein intake as it sometimes drops. Hence the multiple brands of nutrition drinks marketed to older people. Don't lose interest in food but don't have too much interest either!

[purple_haze]

13. The high protein thing

is a myth. I've been eating 200-300 grams of protein a day for 30 years and my kidney function is perfect. Falls happen because people don't have the muscular strength to maintain balance and control the body to prevent a fall or to land correctly during one. Muscle-protein synthesis is critical in maintaining skeletal muscle, and it only comes with protein consumption in the 0.8-2.0x grams per kilogram of lean body mass.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

21. That is higher than necessary. Recommended up to 2 g/kg for older people

You have some basis, in that issues around high protein diets are not clear. Kidney disease is not the only potential issue. Bone density loss is another. But on both of those, it is not clear if there are issues.

I would add that high protein can crowd out other nutrients from lower consumption of fruit and vegetable, such as fibre and anti-oxidants.

Muscle strength is not the only issue contributing to falls. Also important are inner ear balance issues, cognitive issues, and vision. Reasonable exercise (higher than average) helps everything.

Several studies have concluded that active people and athletes may require elevated protein intake (compared to 0.8 g/kg) due to increase in muscle mass and sweat losses, as well as need for body repair and energy source.[41][42] Indeed, it has been shown that protein contribute around 3% of the total energy expenditure during exercise.[47] Suggested amounts vary from 1.2 to 1.4 g/kg for those doing endurance exercise to as much as 1.6-1.8 g/kg for strength exercise[42][44] and up to 2.0 g/kg/day for older people,[48] while a proposed maximum daily protein intake would be approximately 25% of energy requirements i.e. approximately 2 to 2.5 g/kg.[41] However, many questions still remain to be resolved.[42]

In addition, some have suggested that athletes using restricted-calorie diets for weight loss should further increase their protein consumption, possibly to 1.8–2.0 g/kg, in order to avoid loss of lean muscle mass.[49]

There is little consensus on the potentially detrimental effects to healthy individuals of a long-term high protein diet, leading to caution advisories about using high protein intake as a form of weight loss.[60][54][61]

[NNadir]

5. In Russia a number of people are killed by falling out of windows.

They usually have a political problem of some sort.

[OldBaldy1701E]

7. "The CDC researchers did not try to answer why death rates from falls are increasing."

Then, allow me.

They are increasing because there is scant little help for senior citizens in this nation... unless that citizen is wealthy. These days, more and more seniors are having to stay alone more, having to do more, and having to deal with things their body cannot handle more, because of the absolute greed that has become a fucking virtue in this nation. Without that desire to own everything and dominate everyone else, we would have a better system inn place for seniors and others who need extra help in their lives.

Seeing as this has never changed in almost thirty years, I am forced to conclude that everyone wants it this way.

( We won't go into the fact that the oligarchy wants non-rich seniors dead because they are a waste of resources that could be used to further enrich themselves while the 'poors' work themselves into an early grave. That is a story for another time, I guess.)

[SheltieLover]

28. You nailed it, Baldy! SAIL is an evidence based strength, balance & fitness prog for seniors

I've attended the classes at my senior center. Not sure why the website only lists classes in WA state.

https://www.sailfitness.org/#:~:text=SAIL%20is%20a%20strength%2C%20balance,for%20adults%2065%20and%20older.&text=%E2%80%9CI%20have%20asthma%20and%20was,everyone%20else%20without%20breathing%20hard.%E2%80%9D

Tai-chi is also very good for balance & senior planet.org offers free balance, fitness & brain health classes every day.

https://seniorplanet.org/classes/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=10324389352&gbraid=0AAAAADh-P8RHFwjpPUtQWTOeJdTAqqIHS&gclid=CjwKCAjwx8nCBhAwEiwA_z__048NU3O-4TiNxu4RL3foG8pPwL2AzVoZaN3xXIeuGRr7UyHkyyGb3BoCiWIQAvD_BwE

So there are some orgs to help us if we know where to look. Far & few between, of course for the reasons you mentioned.

Enjoy!

[OldBaldy1701E]

29. Part of the problem is that they don't want us to find resources.

They want us gone.

[SheltieLover]

30. Of.course they want us gone. Here is another one: Tap Time (seated for seniors)

$20 for a DVD. I might get ond as it kind of looks fun...

Im the video clip they show, seniors are doing the same exercises my sr ctr SAIL program does.

https://activeforlifefitness.com/products/tap-time%E2%84%A2-physical-dvd?variant=43939902521619

Maybe a library might have a copy?

[OldBaldy1701E]

31. I will have to check. Our move put is close to the main branch here. (n/t)

[SheltieLover]

32. Main branch of what?

[OldBaldy1701E]

33. The county library. (n/t)

[SheltieLover]

34. Oh good!

Ty!

[ananda]

11. I go out of my way not to fall.

I do strengthening exercises.

I take shorter steps now.

And I have taken great care not
to get osteoporosis.

I also walk more on the treadmill
than I used to... much safer and
does the same job.

[Pinback]

12. Tai Chi and Qi Gong can really help with stability and balance.

I’ve found both beneficial in my own life. (They are closely linked, since Tai Chi is actually a sort of choreographed set of Qi Gong movements.) Another benefit is the meditative aspect, which can really help control stress.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

14. Before I retired, one of the things I did

was make presentations at senior centers, retirement homes and community events, about falls in general and seniors falling in particular. This is not really new news. There are many reasons for falling ie; loss of balance, sudden movements, the uplifted sidewalk or tree root that isn't seen, lack of physical strength etc.
There is no way to promise you will never fall, if you live where winter is a season for example, despite taking precautions people sometimes slip on ice and snow. But the single best, most evidence based method of lessening the chance of falling is a program of exercise/physical activity. As we age we must start or continue or increase movement using exercise, walking (which is of course exercise), weight lifting and general all around activity.
Sitting on the couch all day paves the road to a fall..............

[wolfie001]

18. Staying active and exercising so important

Thank you for all the advice you've given out to the elderly. So many great unsung heroes here at DU. You've been added to that very long list! Cheers

*side note- I retired over a year and a half ago and it took me A YEAR to work out a regular night's sleep. 40-years of non-stop working with my body and not sitting down. That can certainly affect one's whole metabolic rate. No one told me about that. Nature always wins.

[Diamond_Dog]

17. Seniors are taking many prescriptions these days

If you look at those “patient information packets” they give you with each prescription, on almost every dang one it will say MAY CAUSE DIZZINESS as the first side effect.

[NNadir]

23. That is a reasonable explanation. It does seem to me...

...that physicians are very quick to write scripts to address the problems that arise with old people. I'm not entirely sure that they consider drug drug interactions of which I'm aware since I work in the pharmaceutical field.

To minimize these I try to stagger the times I take maintenance drugs such as blood pressure meds.

I am a chronic insomniac and occasionally require soporifics like zolipidem. These can be particularly problematic as I age since I'm entering the no fall age.

[No Vested Interest]

24. No one has mentioned the preemptory use of a cane or walking pole.

I'm in late 80s and have never fallen, mostly due to preplanning, i.e., I purchased a Hurrycane (wide triangular foot) and used regularly. As the years increased I added the use of a second cane,, one in each hand. A few months ago, I decided a walker would make me feel more secure, so I retrieved a sturdy but light-weight walker and use that around my one-floor house.
Aging safely takes a little thought and planning, as well as patience with oneself, and where necessary, putting false pride away for good.

[usonian]

26. My family bought me an Apple Watch, partly for the fall detection and alerting. Got cellular model.

Spare you my war stories.

It only went off a couple of times. Forgot the first and the second was closing the hood on the auto.

I do agree that isolation is a major factor in serious or fatal injuries. Seniors are throw-aways in our society.

[mwmisses4289]

27. No mention that during those

years the greatest generation and the baby boomers were beginning to age into that stage of life were falls are most like to occur? Combined with many medications that get prescribed to seniors and mobility/movement issues that make it hard for seniors to get around and it's definetly a recipe for falls.