Falls are the leading cause of fatal and non-fatal injury in the United States among people aged 65 or older. Florida is no exception.
Local organizations went out of their way in September to spotlight National Fall Prevention Week, with events geared toward making elders and their caretakers more cognizant of steps they can take to keep from falling.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said 14 million, or one in four Americans over age 65, fall each year, with falls causing 21,000 deaths in 2021. The Florida Department of Health has more recent figures available, as 4,046 adults were fatally injured in a fall in 2024, with the same one in four fall ratios.
“We want to do whatever we can to help reduce and prevent falls and instruct seniors and their loved ones on health habits and healthy aging,” said Christina Ramos, executive director of Touching Hearts at Home, a Gainesville home care agency.
Touching Hearts partnered with FYZICAL, a physical therapy and fitness organization, for one event on Sept. 20.
For many, it’s a question of balance.
Cindy Dorfeld Bruckman, 65, came to the event with a stress fracture in her foot.
“I’ve had quite many injuries in my life, and when I look back, I think maybe it’s been because I’ve been off balance,” she said.
FYZICAL conducts a free 20-minute balance test to help seniors assess their ability to stay on their feet and then take the steps needed to keep on trucking. For many, it’s a question of balance.
“A lot of times, seniors are not aware,” said Dr. Sarah Janning, FYZICAL clinical director. “We can’t spell prevention without ‘p-t’ (or physical therapy). Those go hand in hand together, and we want to teach people ways to be aware so they can prevent falls.”
Another health fair at the Senior Recreation Center held on Sept. 24 offered insights on fall prevention from community stalwarts like the University of Florida’s Institute on Aging and other UF Health facilities, Elder Options and Gainesville Fire Rescue.
Experts agree that seven factors contribute to senior falls, including declines in physical fitness, impaired vision, medication side effects, chronic diseases, surgical procedures, and environmental and behavioral hazards.
Nighttime can be particularly hazardous.
“Research and data show that most falls happen at night when seniors and adults are toileting,” said Ramos. “We need to make sure bedrooms are safe, that the pathway in the home is clear. We also need to ensure that seniors are well-equipped with night lights and proper lighting.”
Some suggestions about staying safer are just common sense: put grab bars in your bathroom, railings on your stairways, keep pathways in your home clutter-free and use brighter light bulbs.
But for some people, the problem is fear of falling, which keeps them sedentary and afraid to take the next steps to get their lives back.
“People get anxious after they have fallen,” said Dr. Claudia Hernandez, a UF vascular stroke fellow. “They feel I can’t move because it is going to happen again. “But it causes a vicious cycle where we say I don’t want to move; I’ll stay in my bed or chair as long as possible. That makes us weaker and more prone to falls. So, we need a safe exercise program and to keep moving at home.”