Current estimates suggest that of the elderly people living at home, 2.3 million need some type of assistance in conducting daily living activities and 2.7 million need assistance with instrumental activities 1 . In addition, other estimates suggest that approximately 13 percent of older People living at home exhibit one major deficit in physical mobility 2 . All told, these data indicate that a large number of people are at risk for institutionalization and lowered quality of life. 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.