DataPoint: Fall Severity

According to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study, among those aged 65 and older, approximately 30 percent fall each year, and one in five falls leads to serious injury such as broken bones or head injury. Annually, more than 3 million older adults are treated in emergency departments for injuries related to falls. In addition, roughly 300,000 older adults are hospitalized for hip fractures, which are caused by falls more than 95 percent of the time. In 2015, medical expenses associated with falls that did not lead to death were estimated to cost the U.S. health care system nearly $50 billion. Medicare paid approximately $28.9 billion, Medicaid $8.7 billion, and private and other payers $12 billion. Medical spending for fatal falls was estimated to be $754 million.

To view additional facts about elderly falls from the CDC, click here.

Contact: Ken Allison, kallison@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8820