Millions of falls
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From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I'm Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.
Seniors fear falls, and for good reason. One is that falls can break brittle bones, which can lead to hospital stays, rehabilitation, and the sad consequences when bone doesn't heal right. Another is that falls are common for seniors. HHS' Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality says fall-related injuries are responsible for about two million visits a year to hospital emergency departments.
AHRQ's director, Dr. Carolyn Clancy, says seniors can check their medications for food and drug interactions that could lead to falls:
``It's also really smart to have your home checked to ensure you have taken all the steps you can to prevent falls, such as making sure rugs are securely fastened to the floors.'' (9 seconds)
Learn more at hhs.gov.