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Geriatric Falls

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Contemporary Geriatric Medicine

Part of the book series: Contemporary Geriatric Medicine ((COGM,volume 2))

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Abstract

Falls, defined as an unexpected event, usually of swift or sudden occurrence, in which a person finds himself or herself on the ground, are a common problem for the elderly. Falls are the leading cause of accidents in people over 65.1 The frequency of falls rises with increasing age and tends to be higher in women than in men. Women who are 75 and older have higher fall rates than men. However, for the 65-to-74 age group, men have higher rates than women.2 Among the community-residing elderly, about one-third will have at least one fall a year.3 This represents a conservative estimate, since the frequency of falling episodes is largely dependent on self-reporting by fallers themselves and is underreported, unless associated with physical injury requiring medical treatment. The reasons for underreporting of falling episodes are multiple. Perhaps the aged fear being placed in a nursing home, deny the fall as serious, or attribute the fall to the aging process itself. Those elderly with repeated falls are often admitted to a nursing home for permanent placement. Once in an institution, up to 45% will have further falls.4

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Falls and Immobility Program, Department of Geriatrics and Adult Development, Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, New York, 10029, USA

    Rein Tideiksaar

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  1. Rein Tideiksaar
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York, USA

    Steven R. Gambert M.D., F.A.C.P. (Professor of Medicine, Director, Director of Geriatrics, Chief of Medical Services) (Professor of Medicine, Director, Director of Geriatrics, Chief of Medical Services)

  2. Department of Medicine, New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York, USA

    Steven R. Gambert M.D., F.A.C.P. (Professor of Medicine, Director, Director of Geriatrics, Chief of Medical Services) (Professor of Medicine, Director, Director of Geriatrics, Chief of Medical Services)

  3. Center for Aging and Adult Development, New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York, USA

    Steven R. Gambert M.D., F.A.C.P. (Professor of Medicine, Director, Director of Geriatrics, Chief of Medical Services) (Professor of Medicine, Director, Director of Geriatrics, Chief of Medical Services)

  4. Westchester County Medical Center, Valhalla, New York, USA

    Steven R. Gambert M.D., F.A.C.P. (Professor of Medicine, Director, Director of Geriatrics, Chief of Medical Services) (Professor of Medicine, Director, Director of Geriatrics, Chief of Medical Services)

  5. Ruth Taylor Geriatric and Rehabilitation Institute, Valhalla, New York, USA

    Steven R. Gambert M.D., F.A.C.P. (Professor of Medicine, Director, Director of Geriatrics, Chief of Medical Services) (Professor of Medicine, Director, Director of Geriatrics, Chief of Medical Services)

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© 1986 Plenum Publishing Corporation

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Tideiksaar, R. (1986). Geriatric Falls. In: Gambert, S.R. (eds) Contemporary Geriatric Medicine. Contemporary Geriatric Medicine, vol 2. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-5000-2_10

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-5000-2_10

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4684-5002-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4684-5000-2

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