Take a Stand on Falls

Help manage fall risk and keep older adults independent longer.

Each year, more than one in four older adults aged 65 and older will fall. Among older Americans, falls are the number one cause of injuries and death from injury. This represents 29 million falls, 3 million emergency department (ED) visits, 800,000 hospitalizations, and 28,000 deaths. As the leading cause of fatal and nonfatal injuries among older adults, falls will continue to soar, as America’s baby boomers grow older.

Falls are also costly. Older adult falls result in more than $31 billion in annual Medicare costs. These costs will surge unless we recognize the problem and focus on prevention. This year on the first day of fall, Friday, September 22, 2017, CDC along with the National Council on Aging (NCOA), invites you to join us in observing the 10th annual Falls Prevention Awareness Day (#FPAD2017). This event raises awareness about how to prevent fall-related injuries among older Americans.