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.

Home accidents in older people.

Over 300000 people aged over 65 attend accident and emergency departments annually in England and Wales after accidents in the home, with falls being the most important.

• Annual home accident rate in UK - 1002/1000 patients.
• Annual rate of falls in the home - 677/1000 patients.

Most accidents and falls go unreported.

People aged over 65 years:
Most people aged over 65 will have a home accident each year.
About two thirds will experience a fall.

Source: British Medical Journal, vol. 305, 4 July 1992, 30-32.