"Falls On the Rise as a Leading Injury Among Senior Citizens "
The Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog has posted an article on the latest slip and fall statistics. Nearly a third of Americans ages 65 and older will sustain an injury due to a fall; deaths as a result of falls have been rising since the year 2000.
Falls account for 87% of the annual 250,000 hip fractures in people over 65. Hip fractures can then lead to other serious health complications such as blood clots, "skin breakdown" and pressure sores, ulcers and infection. More time for recovery is needed, which raises the risk of the above complications.
Family members can help their elderly relatives by trying to lessen the risk of the possible side effects. For example, try to keep seniors among familiar settings where they are less of a risk of suffering a fall. Also, to make sure they are in the best possible health, make sure they attend their doctor's appointments, which might require making driving arrangements for less mobile seniors. Make sure they are taking all their necessary medications and receiving proper nutrition. These measures will help ensure your family member stays as healthy as possible and lessens the risk of any negative outcomes.