Fall Deaths Increase among U.S. Adults Aged 75 Years or Older - CDC and JAMA

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) reports that the number of fall deaths among U.S. adults aged 75 years or older almost tripled from 2000 to 2016. A Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS) qualified in building inspections and the application of Americans with Disability Acts (ADA) installations for residential and commercial properties, can help prevent this from happening to you.

The study analyzed nationally representative vital statistics data and found that the rate of fall deaths increased among all age groups, but increased the most among the oldest age group. Key findings were that:

• Fall deaths increased substantially from 8,613 in 2000 to 25,189 in 2016.

• Age-adjusted mortality rates among adults aged 75 years and older increased significantly.

  • For men, from approximately 61 per 100,000 in 2000 to 116 per 100,000 in 2016.

  • For women during that time, the increase was from more than 46 per 100,000 women to 106 per 100,000.

Falls result in increased injuries, deaths, and healthcare costs, but are preventable. CDC’s STEADI initiative offers a coordinated approach to implementing the American and British Geriatrics Societies’ clinical practice guideline for fall prevention. STEADI consists of three core elements:Screen, Assess, and Intervene to reduce fall risk by giving older adults tailored strategies. These three elements can be accomplished by a Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS) qualified in building inspections and application of Americans with Disability Acts (ADA) installations.

Please call Richard at ADA Inspections Nationwide, LLC, 615-752-0060 to discuss your needs for fall prevention.

For a copy of the article published by the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) please click on letter .

If you observe a building or stadium that is not ADA compliant and you would like to know how to proceed, please see the link at What To Do When A Building Is Not ADA Compliant or Accessible.

ADA Inspections Nationwide, LLC, offers ADA/ABA/FHA accessibility compliance inspections for buildings and facilities, as applicable to the different laws, and expert witness services with respect to ADA/ABA/FHA laws for building owners, tenants and managers. Also, ADAIN offers consulting for home modifications as a CAPS consultant for people wishing to age in place in their homes. For a complete list of services please see ADAIN Services.

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