Risks of Falling Risks of Falling Children may tumble to the ground, then bounce back up. Older people aren't so lucky.
Injuries caused by falls are a major health problem for the elderly.
A recent study found that 70 percent of healthy people older than 60 had at least one fall in three years. Falls can cause broken bones and severely impair an older person's mobility and independence. In severe cases, as with a broken pelvis, a fall can lead to serious illness or even death, depending on the patient's health. For older people who live alone, a bad fall can be particularly dangerous if they can't get up without help and can't reach a phone to call for assistance. Researchers have determined that a good test for someone's risk for falling is their ability to stand on one leg.