CDC Data: Falls Killed More Than 43,000 Adults 65 and Older in 2024, With About 4.5 Million Emergency Department Visits
Falls among adults 65 and older caused more than 43,000 deaths in 2024, making falls the leading cause of injury death for that age group, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Emergency departments recorded about 4.5 million visits for older adult falls the same year. The CDC stresses that falls are not an inevitable part of aging and can be prevented.
More than one in four older adults reports falling each year, adding up to about 37 million falls, CDC's Still Going Strong pages note. Falls can cause serious injuries such as broken bones or head and brain injuries, and falls and motor vehicle crashes are the two most common causes of traumatic brain injury hospitalizations among older adults.
The CDC offers several tools to cut that risk. The public can gauge personal risk with the Falls Free CheckUp questionnaire and build a tailored plan with the LIFE Fall Prevention Planning Tool. For health care providers, the STEADI initiative, Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths, and Injuries, provides screening, assessment and intervention resources to reduce fall risk among older patients.
Some commonly used medicines can raise the risk of a fall or a car crash, so the CDC advises older adults to review their medication lists with their doctor. And anyone who does fall should tell their health care provider even if they feel unhurt: more than half of older adults who fall each year never mention it.
(Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图片来源：Wikimedia Commons，「Aerobics class」，公共领域 | Image: Wikimedia Commons, "Aerobics class," public domain
