You don’t need to convince SafeGuardian subscribers that falling poses huge health risks for seniors.
“Every year, millions of Americans older than 65 experience falls,” according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “This translates to 1 in 4 older adults falling, resulting in more than 800,000 emergency department visits, with 1 in 5 of the falls resulting in serious injuries such as broken hips or other bone fractures, or head trauma. Falls are the leading cause of injury and death in this age group.”
While it might not be a secret why senior falls are so serious, there are a few misconceptions out there that we’re ready to debunk:
1. Women Fall More Than Men: False
While women may make up a larger percentage of PERS users, it’s not necessarily because they fall more. Instead, according to industry insiders with experience in PERS adoption, it’s likely because they’re more open and willing to accept the help of a PERS device over their male counterparts.
According to the CDC, “Older men are more likely to experience a fatal fall than similarly aged women.” According to a 2020 study, while “approximately the same percentage of women (28.9%) and men (26.1%) reported falling, men had a higher death rate (91.4 per 100,000) than women (68.3).”
While a morbid statistic, it could be a key talking point to convince more men to try out a PERS solution.
2. Cats Cause More Falls Than Dogs: False
“The CDC has estimated that nearly 87,000 human injuries each year are associated with cats and dogs. Dogs are the worst offenders and are associated with 7.5 times as many injuries as cats. Women are twice as likely to be injured in pet-related falls as are men. Injury rates are highest among people over 75, but people of all ages can trip over pets. Fractures and bruises are the most common injuries.
About 2 in 3 falls caused by cats result from stumbling or tripping over the animal. Only 1 in 3 falls caused by dogs are due to tripping over the pet. About 1 in 5 dog-related falls are due to being knocked over or pulled off balance by a dog.”
While pets provide endless positives for their owners (companionship, exercise, etc.), there’s no escaping the fact that they’re “cute little trip hazards.”
To learn more about wearable, wireless fall alert devices for seniors, visit:
800-378-2957