Take action to prevent falls
Vol.1, Issue 10, November 2021
November is Fall Prevention Month in Canada. For seniors, falls are the top cause of serious injury and injury-related death. Four in five hospitalizations for injury among seniors are due to a fall.
These facts come from a report released this past Summer by Parachute. Parachute is Canada’s national charity for injury prevention. The ‘Cost of Injury in Canada’ report looks at the cost of injury to our society. That includes costs to the health-care system, to productivity, and to the people behind the numbers. Here are some more highlights:
The numbers
In a single year (2018), falls among seniors in Canada resulted in:
- 4,849 deaths
- 28,310 permanent disabilities
- 94,529 hospitalizations
- 424,609 emergency department visits.
Risk of a serious fall injury increases as we age. People over 65 are four times more likely to end up in hospital with a fall-related injury than those age 45-64.
Fall injuries cost the Canadian health care system $10.3 billion a year. Seniors’ falls account for a little more than half of that cost.
Following this report, this Fall Prevention Month Parachute and the Partners for Fall Prevention Month are promoting their free online toolkit. They encourage everyone to take action to prevent falls.
Subscribe to the newsletter to get updates on the Fall Prevention Month campaign. You will learn about new resources and how to get involved.
What are the most effective ways to prevent falls?
- Exercise to build strength and balance
- Eat healthy food and drink plenty of water
- Manage your medications to prevent dizziness
- Safeguard your home
- Take your time, don’t rush
- Wear well-fitted shoes
- Use proper eyeglasses and hearing aids
- Think about using a mobility device, such as a cane, if needed
This November, join your community, health practitioners, families, and caregivers in spreading the word about falls and ways to prevent them.
More resources for older adults and their families
Fall prevention among older adults: https://parachute.ca/en/injury-topic/fall-prevention-for-seniors/
Online resources for older adults and caregivers including home safety, healthy eating, and staying active, and vision-related tips: https://www.fallpreventionmonth.ca/adults/additional-resources-adults/information-for-older-adults-and-caregivers
Take your exercise routine one step further with Active Aging Canada’s recent network article on balance training for preventing falls:
https://www.activeagingcanada.ca/newsletter/active-aging-network/v01-issue005-2021-04-Take-Your-Exercise-One-Step-Further.htm
More resources for health practitioners
Resources for practitioners to inform and support their practice and engage their communities in preventing falls and fall-related injuries. https://www.fallpreventionmonth.ca/adults/additional-resources-adults/information-for-older-adults-and-caregivers
Become a member of the Fall Prevention Community of Practice (Loop) to problem-solve with members across Canada and discuss how to implement promising, evidence-informed fall prevention practices: https://www.fallsloop.com
References:
1. Parachute. (2021). Potential Lost, Potential for Change: The Cost of Injury in Canada 2021. https://parachute.ca/en/professional-resource/cost-of-injury-in-canada/
2. Government of Canada. (2015). Seniors' Falls in Canada – Infographic. https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/health-promotion/aging-seniors/publications/publications-general-public/seniors-falls-canada-second-report/seniors-falls-canada-infographic.html
Liza Stathokostas, PhD
Research Director
Active Aging Canada
