Another state-level predictor of mortality from accidental falls is winter weather: eight of the 10 states with the highest age-adjusted rates are particularly snowy.
Despite precautions, deaths are increasing
Before we discuss some of the possible reasons that led to the decline, we are going to discuss some of the reasons why we expected lower Decline in death rate. We will focus on trends among the elderly, as the increase in deaths from falls is due to the older age group. Clearly, a number of factors can be expected to moderate the decline.
First, there have been large-scale efforts to increase awareness of fall risk and implement safety procedures. National Council on Aging launched in 2007 Falls Prevention Awareness Week. In 2012, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) launched steady (Preventing Elderly Accidents, Deaths, and Injuries) To provide health care professionals with tools to integrate fall prevention into their routine clinical practice.
Second, and relatedly, American homes have adopted guardrails to limit falls. According to the American Housing Survey, the percentage of American homes with no staircase entrance has increased from 42.1% 2007 to 56.3% 2023.
Third, the elderly are underreporting Handicap These may be risk factors for falls. According to the American Community Survey, rates of visual disability, cognitive disability, and mobility impairment among the elderly have declined steadily from 2010 to 2024.
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