Understanding and Preventing Falls

Despite the fact that elderly persons have a 33-35% chance of falling and becoming injured, most are ill-prepared. According to the World Health Organization, falls cause over 50% of accidental injuries and 39% of fatal injuries in the elderly. They are the fifth leading cause of death in the general population.  Falls can be either non-mechanical, related to underlying illness or debilitation, or they can be mechanical, related to accidental trips and slips and caused by environmental fact