UNITED STATES, Sept. 25 (Senior Newspaper) — For older adults, fall prevention often starts with ordinary decisions at home: clearing a walkway, turning on better lighting, using a handrail and asking a health professional to review medications.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says about 4.5 million emergency-department visits for older-adult falls occurred in 2024. The agency also has a separate facts page that cites about 3 million emergency-department visits each year among older people. The CDC pages do not explain the difference in the figures, including whether they use different years, definitions or data sources.
The available figures do not establish that emergency visits are rising over time. They do show that falls are a major reason older adults receive emergency care, while federal and state health agencies say many risk factors can be addressed.
What can make a home safer?
The CDC and the National Institute on Aging recommend removing clutter, loose rugs and other objects that can cause a trip. They also recommend brighter lighting, handrails on stairs and grab bars in bathrooms. Frequently used items should be kept within easy reach, according to NIA and guidance from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
The orthopedic association advises against standing on chairs, boxes or other unstable surfaces to reach something. Its guidance says research supports simple home-safety changes, but the page does not identify the studies or quantify how much any particular change reduces falls.
A home assessment can help identify hazards that are easy to overlook. The New York State Office for the Aging lists home assessments and modifications among fall-prevention approaches.
Why do exercise and balance matter?
The CDC recommends strength and balance activities, including tai chi. NIA advises older adults to stay physically active and perform balance and strength exercises. The New York State Office for the Aging also lists gait, balance and functional training, along with programs such as Tai Chi, Matter of Balance and Stepping On.
These recommendations are not a substitute for an individualized medical assessment. The CDC advises health care providers to screen patients for fall risk, assess factors that can be changed and connect patients with clinical or community interventions.
What should be reviewed with a health professional?
The CDC and NIA recommend reviewing medications because some medicines or side effects can increase the risk of falling. NIA also advises checking vision and hearing, while the CDC recommends annual eye checks and discussion of health conditions that may affect fall risk.
The New York State Office for the Aging lists medication reduction or withdrawal when appropriate as one possible prevention strategy. Medication changes should be handled with a health professional rather than made independently, because the appropriate decision depends on the person and the medicine.
The New York agency also lists vitamin D supplementation for people who are vitamin-D deficient. That recommendation does not mean vitamin D is appropriate for everyone.
NIA advises older adults to limit alcohol, stand up slowly, use properly fitted assistive devices when needed and wear supportive, nonskid footwear. The CDC also recommends discussing osteoporosis screening and treatment when appropriate.
What should happen after a fall?
NIA advises telling a doctor after a fall, even when there is no pain. The institute says a fall can point to a medical problem or to a correctable issue involving medication or eyesight.
Fall-prevention guidance reported by Colorado’s KOAA describes a four-part response plan: stay calm and check for injuries, have a way to call for help, make sure emergency responders can enter the home and coordinate a plan with family, friends or neighbors. The supplied information does not identify the summit organizers or provide evidence measuring the results of that plan.
A fall does not always mean a person must give up independence. The CDC, NIA and state health agencies frame prevention as a combination of physical activity, medical review and practical changes to the home. The best steps depend on an individual’s health, mobility, medications and living space.
