Further evidence for the lessened ability of older persons to remain at home is reflected in the high rate of home accidents among persons aged 65 and over, which accounts for 43 percent of all home fatalities. Falls represent the most frequent non-transportation related accidents occurring among older adults and are the leading cause of home fatalities for this population. Stairways are particularly hazardous for the elderly. Other types of falls include slipping in bathtubs and showers, slipping on tile or icy terrain, and tripping over objects on the floor. Falls associated with getting in and out of bed, getting on or off a chair, or using the bathroom are also frequent.
Burns are also common among older people.
Among activities that lead to burns are cooking, smoking, and accidentally turning on and failing to turn off appliances. Scalds from hot water are also a frequent source of injury, especially in bathtubs and showers. Poisoning from improper doses of medication ranks third as the most prevalent type of home accidents. The high rate of home accidents among older persons points to the need to understand the etiology of these accidents so that we can develop design interventions. The reasons for the high frequency of such accidents are complex but are likely to include the fact that older people spend most of their time at home and that age-related changes in functional abilities make it more difficult for them to complete home tasks.