CDC: More Seniors Dying from Falls

Nearly 30,000 Americans aged 65 or older died from a fall in 2016, up from 18,334 in 2007, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The death rate from falls rose 31% for seniors over the period, with the largest increase among adults aged 85 and older. State rates in 2016 ranged from 24.4 per 100,000 in Alabama to 142.7 in Wisconsin. “Health care providers should be aware that deaths from falls are increasing nationally among older adults but that falls are preventable,” the authors said. “Falls and fall prevention should be discussed during annual wellness visits, when health care providers can assess fall risk, educate patients about falls, and select appropriate interventions.”