If you are an older adult and you fall down, you could face many different hardships. In fact, many older adults lose their lives after falling and even more suffer devastating injuries. It is important to understand how widespread falls are among older adults and review the various ways in which these accidents shatter lives.
Unfortunately, many people fall down as a result of another party’s carelessness. For example, some business owners do not pay attention to the safety of floors, stairs and walkways outside, increasing the odds of falls.
How often do older adults fall down?
The Illinois Department of Public Health published information on older adults and falls. According to data, roughly 3.7 people in the U.S. turn 65 every day. With a growing older population, more and more older people are suffering serious injuries and losing their lives due to falling down. In fact, an older adult loses his or her life as a result of falling down every 20 minutes in the U.S.
How do falls affect older adults?
Aside from claiming lives and causing serious injuries, falls can also interfere with an older adult’s ability to stay independent. If you fall down as an older adult, you could suffer a serious head injury or break a bone. Moreover, you could have mental trauma after the accident, which might interfere with your quality of life.
If you or a loved one recently fell down on a slick surface or another risk factor such as clutter, and the accident occurred due to another person’s negligence, you need to look into your options.