Health

littlemissmartypants

(28,456 posts) Wed Jun 18, 2025, 05:34 AM Jun 18

Older adults in the US are increasingly dying from unintentional falls [View all]

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

34 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Older adults in the US are increasingly dying from unintentional falls [View all] littlemissmartypants Jun 18 OP

Unfortunately, at a certain age, when you fall, you can break a hip. no_hypocrisy Jun 18 #1

I'm 76 and I've become a shuffler. Aussie105 Jun 18 #9

I read that often, the hip breaks and causes the fall, not the other way around. I've read up some about this LiberalLoner Jun 18 #15

After one of his surgeries, my dad's doctor *recommended* he shuffle his feet. summer_in_TX Jun 19 #25

There are intentional falls? rzemanfl Jun 18 #2

Not self-harm. Bungee jumping, parachute jumping, diving boards, stage diving, . . . . nt Bernardo de La Paz Jun 18 #6

Well, I am seventy-seven and know nobody in my age cohort who does rzemanfl Jun 18 #10

I would add semi-controlled falls: "falling into bed", falling onto the couch, falling asleep, falling in love Bernardo de La Paz Jun 18 #22

Too bad the AP couldn't have used "accidental". sinkingfeeling Jun 18 #19

I agree and award you the thread rzemanfl Jun 18 #20

Too bad this hasn't happened to a certain someone. Ferrets are Cool Jun 18 #3

I've never actually heard of that happening to a man...I think osteoporosis is more of a problem for post menopausal women LiberalLoner Jun 18 #16

Easiest way to prevent this (at any age) purple_haze Jun 18 #4

Weight training and proper protein diet. High-protein can lead to kidney trouble, I think Bernardo de La Paz Jun 18 #8

The high protein thing purple_haze Jun 18 #13

That is higher than necessary. Recommended up to 2 g/kg for older people Bernardo de La Paz Jun 18 #21

In Russia a number of people are killed by falling out of windows. NNadir Jun 18 #5

"The CDC researchers did not try to answer why death rates from falls are increasing." OldBaldy1701E Jun 18 #7

You nailed it, Baldy! SAIL is an evidence based strength, balance & fitness prog for seniors SheltieLover Jun 19 #28

Part of the problem is that they don't want us to find resources. OldBaldy1701E Jun 19 #29

Of.course they want us gone. Here is another one: Tap Time (seated for seniors) SheltieLover Jun 19 #30

I will have to check. Our move put is close to the main branch here. (n/t) OldBaldy1701E Jun 19 #31

Main branch of what? SheltieLover Jun 19 #32

The county library. (n/t) OldBaldy1701E Jun 19 #33

Oh good! SheltieLover Jun 19 #34

I go out of my way not to fall. ananda Jun 18 #11

Tai Chi and Qi Gong can really help with stability and balance. Pinback Jun 18 #12

Before I retired, one of the things I did Dyedinthewoolliberal Jun 18 #14

Staying active and exercising so important wolfie001 Jun 18 #18

Seniors are taking many prescriptions these days Diamond_Dog Jun 18 #17

That is a reasonable explanation. It does seem to me... NNadir Jun 18 #23

No one has mentioned the preemptory use of a cane or walking pole. No Vested Interest Jun 18 #24

My family bought me an Apple Watch, partly for the fall detection and alerting. Got cellular model. usonian Jun 19 #26

No mention that during those mwmisses4289 Jun 19 #27