Falling Is the Leading Cause of Death for Florida's Seniors

Falls are the leading cause of accidental death for Floridians 55 and older, reports the Daytona Beach News-Journal . According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, almost 3,000 adults over the age of 55 died from falls in Florida in 2017, and 50 percent of those deaths were among adults older than 85. Halifax Health's Chantal Cote said most of those deaths are from complications following falls. The International Osteoporosis Foundation estimated that up to 20 percent of individuals die in the first year following hip fractures, mostly due to pre-existing medical conditions. The mortality risk also is higher for at least five years after an injury-causing fall. Other fall-related injuries that seniors can suffer include head trauma, internal and external bleeding, and wrist and shoulder fractures. Cote noted falls in seniors most often happen in the bathroom or on the stairs.