Why We Are Concerned
New Hampshire Facts About Elderly Falls
- Each year, one-third of people age 65 and older, and one-half of those 80 and older will fall.
- Among older adults, falls are the leading cause of injury death. On average, more than 200 people die each year in New Hampshire as a result of a fall.
- The majority of senior falls (62%) occur at home.
- More than 95% of hip fractures among adults ages 65 and older are caused by falls.
- In one year there are over 2,200 older adults hospitalized on average due to falls and 9,825 were treated in hospital emergency rooms.
- In New Hampshire, of the older adults in the state who were hospitalized due to falls, more than half could not return home or live independently.
- Falls are not a normal part of aging. Older adults can take several steps to protect their independence and reduce their risk of falling.
As the facts above indicate, falls are a significant problem for older adults and for those who care for and about them.
Sources:
CDC's WISQARS™ website (Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System)
- CDC Fatal
- CDC NON Fatal
- CDC Cost
New Hampshire Health Wisdom Website - Connecting NH to Healthy Data:
- NH
- New Hampshire Uniform Hospital Discharge Data Sets (NHUHDDS) 2015, please note:
- The 2015 data estimates are calculated using a 9 month annualized rate with the same ICD9 codes. Indicators with strong seasonal variability, e.g., asthma, may not reflect actual rates.
- We do not have out of state hospital data yet which impacts incidence rates in many border communities and for several types of diagnoses/services.
- We will not release 2010-2011 data due to quality issues though we may at some point revisit whether the data is consistent enough on a case by case basis.
- National Council on Aging
- CDC Home and Recreational Safety
