Here are the new categories of aging. This makes falls the leading cause of death for elderly people who are injured. Injuries related to falls are a prevalent issue in the elderly and occur throughout the year. As age increases, so does the risk of falling. Almost three quarters of all falls occur in or around the home.
Falls occur on all types of surfaces and from heights.
The most prevalent mechanisms are falling from stairs, tripping, loss of balance and falling while standing on ladders or furniture. There are many factors associated with falls, some relate to the person and others relate to the home surroundings. Personal factors associated with falls are often related to aging and medical conditions. Illness or disease factors may also predispose seniors to falling. Theses may include dizziness, generalized weakness or loss of muscle strength.