The trend in the most recent years has generally reflected improvement, making it more likely this new target will be met by 2000. The year 2000 objective for hospitalizations for head and spinal cord injuries was set without benefit of specific surveillance data on such hospitalizations. While the trend in motor vehicle death rates for the population as a whole and for youth has been very encouraging, the lack of improvement for the population aged 70 and over is a source of concern. The Department is sharing these findings with the New Jersey Department of Transportation. As one strategy to lessen fall-related injuries among older New Jerseyans, the Department began an osteoporosis prevention effort in 1991.
Osteoporosis is primarily a disease of the elderly, resulting in the loss of bone mass.
Because osteoporosis makes bones more brittle, and therefore more prone to break as a result of a fall, this is an important area for intervention. Initial activities included the development of a surveillance system to provide baseline data on statewide osteoporosis prevalence. Other components include provider education and consumer outreach. Older, low-income minority women are a particular area of concern. The Department is field testing a comprehensive wellness program developed by the National Caucus and Center for the Black Aged.