Deaths From Falls Among Older Americans Are on the Rise

New research cited by the Associated Press shows fatal falls have nearly tripled in older Americans in recent years, increasing to more than 25,000 deaths annually. A separate study offers further proof that programs focusing on improving muscle strength and balance can help achieve better fall prevention. Both studies were published Tuesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association . "Deaths from falls may have increased because older people are living longer, living longer independently, and are living longer with chronic conditions," commented Elizabeth Burns, a study co-author and health scientist at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's injury center. She further noted that some medications also make older men and women prone to falls. The new research included 16 years of U.S. vital statistics data on adults aged 75. Fatal falls rose from 8,600 in 2000 to 25,190 in 2016. Separate CDC data show they climbed even higher in 2017, to nearly 26,440 fatal falls in Americans 75 and older. "The results echo studies of fatal fall trends in the Netherlands and other European countries," concluded the AP.