Accidents and unintentional injuries among older adults are a major public health problem that, with the exception of falls, has received relatively little attention compared to their occurrence in other age groups and to other health problems among seniors. Injuries to older adults are costly to the health‐care system and often have serious consequences to the individual. Injuries can lead to an irreversible decline in function, institutionalization, and even death.
Many injuries are related to physical changes that accompany the aging process. These include changes in eyesight that reduce depth and color perception, increased susceptibility to glare, and alterations in blood circulation that can result in dizziness and loss of balance. Changes in walking patterns, for example taking shorter and shallower steps, increase the risk of tripping. In addition, reaction times can increase, resulting in a reduced ability to rapidly react to danger. Other changes that may contribute to...
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Souare, G.E. (2008). Accidents. In: Loue, S.J., Sajatovic, M. (eds) Encyclopedia of Aging and Public Health. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-33754-8_4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-33754-8_4
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-0-387-33753-1
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