Sinanco Newsletter 
Published by Sinanco, Texasgatan 9, S-59341 Västervik, Sweden. Covering the international literature about accidents and their prevention in hospitals, nursing homes and among the elderly.

Falls among the elderly in USA.

Annual incidence:
A. In the community:
25 % of all people at 70 years of age fall every year.
35 % of all people > 70 years of age fall every year.

B. In nursing homes:
1600 falls per 1000 patients per year

Injury is the sixth leading cause of death in persons over 65 years.

Most of these fatal injuries are related to falls. Falls contribute to about 9500 deaths each year among persons over 65 years of age.

Falls and instability are contributing factors in 40 % of nursing homes admissions.

Source: The New England Journal of Medicine, April 20, 1989. (From Yale University School of Medicine.)