Falls in the elderly.

• Whilst falls are very common in old age, not every older person falls regularly. 

• Up to 40% of the elderly greater than 70 years report a fall in one given year.

• 50% of fallers experience multiple falls.

• The incidence of falls in the elderly rises steadily highest amongst those 80 years and over. 

• Nursing home elderly residents have the highest falls risk - about 50% fall per year. 

• Falls constitute 2/3rds of accidental deaths in the elderly and 75% of deaths caused by falls are those in patients over 70 years of age.

• Up to 30% of older people who fracture their hip after a fall die within a year of the fracture.

• 50% of older people sustaining a fractured hip never regain pre-fall level of mobility and function.

• Up to 25% of those with a hip fracture will end up in a nursing home within 12 months.

• Recurrent falls are a common reason for elderly people going into permanent nursing home care.

• Falls in the elderly can be managed and reduced with the underlying causes of falls successfully treated by holistic multidisciplinary medicine.

For more information read Dr Peter Lipski’s book “Your Elderly Parents Failing Health. Is It Ageing Or A Treatable Condition”.