Many seniors hurt in falls: CDC report

Timber! Crack!

"About one in six Americans 65 and older have suffered a fall in the past three months, with about a third of those people sustaining injuries such as a broken hip, U.S. health officials said on Thursday.

Falls are a leading threat to the independence of elderly people and their ability to function, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.

About 16,000 are killed by injuries from falls each year and many others left disabled, the CDC said."

Falling is actually a big problem.

"The findings showed about 5.8 million people -- about 16 percent of the age group -- reported having fallen at least once during the preceding three months. And 1.8 million people -- about 5 percent of the age group -- reported being injured in a fall in the past three months."

In both women and men, it very often leads to death in nursing homes. Usually a lonely, unhappy place to live (merely exist, really) then die.

"A higher percentage of women reported fall-related injuries than men, and the risking of falling increased with age, the CDC said...

'Even when those injuries are minor, they can seriously affect older adults' quality of life by inducing a fear of falling, which can lead to self-imposed activity restrictions, social isolation and depression,' the CDC said.

The CDC said annual direct medical costs for fall-related U.S. injuries for the elderly were estimated at $19 billion in 2000."

The fit fall less than the unfit.