UNITED STATES, Sept. 25 (Senior Newspaper) — Falls are a common reason older adults visit emergency departments, but the available federal figures do not show a clear national increase over time.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says about 4.5 million emergency-department visits for older-adult falls occurred in 2024. A separate CDC facts page reports about 3 million fall-related emergency visits among older people each year. The agency pages do not explain whether the difference reflects a different year, definition or data source, so the numbers should not be treated as a trend.
The prevention guidance is more consistent: Federal and state health agencies recommend a combination of physical activity, medication and vision reviews, and changes to make the home safer.
Start with the most common home hazards
The CDC, National Institute on Aging and American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons recommend removing clutter, loose rugs and other objects that could cause a trip. They also advise improving lighting, especially along stairs and in hallways; installing handrails on both sides of staircases; and adding grab bars in bathrooms.
The agencies also recommend keeping frequently used items within easy reach. The AAOS advises against using chairs, boxes or other unstable surfaces as step stools.
A home-safety review can help identify hazards that are easy to overlook. New York’s Office for the Aging lists home assessments and modifications among its fall-prevention strategies.
Build strength and balance safely
The CDC recommends strength and balance activities, including tai chi. The National Institute on Aging also advises older adults to stay physically active and do balance and strength exercises.
Programs such as Tai Chi, Matter of Balance and Stepping On are among the evidence-based options listed by New York’s Office for the Aging. The agency also points to gait, balance and functional training.
The appropriate activity can depend on a person’s health and abilities. The CDC tells health care providers to screen patients for fall risk, assess factors that can be changed and connect patients with clinical or community interventions.
Review medicines, vision and health conditions
The CDC and NIA advise reviewing medicines with a health care professional because some medication side effects may raise the risk of falling. The CDC recommends discussing health conditions that may affect fall risk and having yearly eye checks. NIA guidance also includes checking hearing and reviewing medication side effects.
Minnesota’s Department of Health recommends managing health conditions and medications that may increase fall risk. New York’s guidance includes reducing or stopping medications when appropriate, under professional supervision. It also lists vitamin D supplementation for people who are vitamin-D deficient—not as a general recommendation for everyone.
NIA advises limiting alcohol, standing up slowly and wearing supportive, nonskid footwear. It also recommends using properly fitted assistive devices when they are needed.
Take a fall seriously
NIA advises telling a doctor after a fall even when there is no pain. The agency says a fall can point to a medical problem or to a correctable issue involving medication or eyesight.
Fall-prevention guidance reported from a Colorado summit also emphasizes preparing before an accident: staying calm and checking for injuries, having a way to call for help, making sure emergency responders can enter the home, and arranging a plan with family, friends or neighbors. The supplied account does not identify the summit organizers or provide evidence measuring the plan’s results.
Falls cannot always be prevented, and the supplied sources do not quantify how much any single home change or exercise program reduces falls or injuries. But the CDC, NIA and professional organizations agree on the practical focus: improve the walking environment, support strength and balance, review medicines and vision, and make a plan for getting help after a fall.
