Medical Nurse Training, Inc. (www.MedicalNurseTraining.com) is the premier on-line portal for training doctors and nurses on fall prevention and protection.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that over 60% of fatal falls occur in the home. Additionally, the total cost of falls in 2010 is expected to be between 68 and 100 billion dollars. Many of these medically significant events include hip fracture, head injury, and fear of falling again. Most of this cost and loss of life is completely preventable through new fall prevention, fall protection products and safer falls education.
Over 44 million baby boomers live at home with an elderly sick parent according to The Caring Alliance. Another 25 million at-risk elderly live alone and unprotected from devastating falls. The current economic conditions have exacerbated these numbers. Since life expectancy has continued to increase, this situation is likely to become even more prevalent. The faller may need to move in with adult children. Adult children often have to take time off work to care for at-risk parents. The costs, emotionally and physically, to the person who falls and their families are enormous.
Much of this information is virtually unknown to the general public. Annually, there are approximately 370,000 hip fractures. Head injuries from falls at home are another significant medical cost. Falls are the major cause of 40% of nursing home admissions and subsequent costs to families. Per year, of those admitted to a hospital, only about 50% will survive a serious fall. Falls are the leading cause of accidental death and more than 33% of adults 65 and older fall each year. Reductions in healthcare costs are current concerns of all in the government and the effects of falls are major cost factors.