As America's retirement population continues its steady growth, so too does the number of deaths from elderly falls that occur each year.
Newly released data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported a 30% increase in elderly fall deaths between 2007 and 2016. The study goes on to forecast that should such a trend continue, by 2030, seven fall deaths will occur every hour.
Elderly falls result in more than just deaths
Not every elderly fall ultimately results in death, but one out of every five falls results in a serious injury — such as a broken bone or head contusion.
Here are some other key takeaways from the CDC's report:
- Each year, 3 million older people are treated in emergency departments for fall injuries.
- Over 800,000 patients a year are hospitalized because of a fall injury, most often because of a head injury or hip fracture.
- More than 95% of hip fractures are caused by falling, usually by falling sideways.
Many seniors also report concealing the fact that they've fallen for fear of losing their independence. This often involves lying on the floor of their homes for hours after a fall as they wait to be discovered by their caregivers.
What you can do about elderly falls
While the raw numbers might seem scary, caregivers and seniors alike are not helpless in preventing falls. According to the CDC, open communication between seniors and caregivers is the best way to prevent a fall before it happens. When a senior isn't feeling right, they need to report that to their caregiver.
But these situations often escalate in the blink of an eye.
The CareCaller™ detects elderly falls
With SafeGuardian's line of CareCaller™ devices, seniors can instantly contact caregivers, friends, family, loved ones, and more at the singular press of a button. And since the CareCaller™ is 4G LTE-enabled, seniors will enjoy that protection anywhere throughout the country. The moment they start to feel unwell, their caregivers will be the first to know.
Should a fall occur, the CareCaller™'s innovative fall detection technology will automatically activate and call out to caregivers without any action required from the wearer.
With the CareCaller™, seniors can continue to live independently and enjoy peace of mind wherever they go — even in the event of a fall.
For more information on SafeGuardian's innovative fall detection technology and how it can help your loved one, click here.