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More than 1/3 of adults ages 65
years and older fall each year.
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Among
older adults, falls are the leading cause of injury deaths and the most
common cause of nonfatal injuries and hospital admissions for trauma.
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In 2001, more than 1.6 million
seniors were treated in emergency departments for fall-related injuries
and nearly 388,000 were hospitalized.
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Falls are a leading cause of traumatic
brain injuries.
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According to the American
Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, the cost for treatment of fall-related injury is
estimated at $20.2 billion annually
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One half of the elderly people
who fall – do so repeatedly
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Compared with elderly persons
who do not fall, those who fall experience greater functional decline in
activities of daily living (ADLs) and in physical and social activities
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