Discuss the impact that falls can have in late adulthood

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

At age 65 and older, the death rate from unintentional injuries is at an all-time high—more than twice as great as in adolescence and early adulthood, Motor vehicle collisions and falls are largely responsible. About 30 percent of adults over age 65 and 50 percent over age 80 have experienced a fall within the last year. Declines in vision, hearing, mobility, muscle strength, and cognitive functioning; depressed mood; use of medications that affect mental processing; and development of certain chronic illnesses (such as arthritis) increase the risk of falling. Because of weakened bones and difficulty breaking a fall, serious injury results about 10 percent of the time. Among the most common is hip fracture. It increases fifteenfold from age 65 to 85 and is associated with a 20 percent increase in mortality. Of those who survive, half never regain the ability to walk without assistance. Falling can also impair health indirectly, by promoting fear of falling. Almost half of older adults who have fallen admit that they purposefully avoid activities because they are afraid of falling again. In this way, a fall can limit mobility and social contact, undermining both physical and psychological well-being. Although an active lifestyle may expose older people to more situations that can cause a fall, the health benefits of activity far outweigh the risk of serious injury due to falling.