As people age, their reflexes, vision and hearing may not be as good as they once were. The reduced functionality of such senses can put people at an increased risk of falling down.
Falls for the elderly can have far more serious consequences than the same accidents involving younger individuals. Research from the University of Rochester Medical Center found that even small falls can be fatal. In fact, their research indicates that falls in adults over the age of 70 are three times more likely to result in death.
Dr. Thomas Helling from the Department of Surgery at the University of Mississippi Medical Center says that as the population ages, more elderly patients may need care for falls.
“Instead of an influx of ‘traditional’ knife-and-gun club victims, trauma centers of the future may need to prepare for treatment of a less dramatic but no less relevant form of injury that may very well have a substantial impact on the health and independence of our older citizens,” says Helling.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says it’s important for older adults to engage in exercise regularly to maintain strength. Not only can such actions help one stay healthy, it may keep health insurance and life insurance premiums at bay.
