Rate of Deadly Falls Has Doubled Since 2000
President Carter Suffers Broken Hip From Fall
(CNN) Falls are a serious event at any age—your independence and freedom can be affected. For seniors, this may prompt hospitalization and a subsequent stay in a long-term care facility or nursing home. And as we age, recovery times tend to increase. Falls are the lading cause of death and injury in the elderly, as indicated by geriatric specialist Dr. Becky Powers. Older females are more frequently harmed by falls, yet men are more likely to suffer a fatal fall. As indicated by the American Geriatrics Society, up to 1/3 of adults over 65 years old will experience a fall at home, and a majority of those will fall more than once. One of the keys to not only living longer, but living better is proactively preventing falls.