Prevention of Falls in Older Adults

Welcome to the Prevention of Falls in Older Adults section. Here you will find assistance for older adults and health care workers in building skills and knowledge to avoid injuries from falls.  The goal is to reduce the frequency, severity, and impact of preventable injury from falls.

Statistics on Seniors’ Falls in Canada

• Falls cause more than 90% of all hip fractures in seniors

• 40% of all nursing home admissions occur as a result of falls

• Even without injury, a fall can cause a loss in confidence and a curtailment of activities which can lead to a decline in health and function and contribute to future falls with more serious outcomes

• A 20% reduction in falls would translate to an estimated 7,500 fewer hospitalizations and 1,800 fewer permanently disabled seniors.  The overall national savings could amount to $138 million annually.

Public Health Agency of Canada, Report on Seniors’ Falls in Canada, 2005

The topic of falls prevention among older adults is a major concern in Grey and Bruce counties. Grey Bruce hospitalization rates for injuries are significantly higher than the rates of Southwestern Ontario and the Province of Ontario.

• For those aged 65 and over, the rate of hospitalization associated with injury from falls is 21% higher than Southwestern Ontario and 35% higher than the Province of Ontario. (Ontario Trauma Registry, 2001)

Grey Bruce has a higher percentage of seniors than the provincial average:

• The provincial average of persons age 65+ is 13.6%.
• Grey County has 18.7%.
• Bruce County has 18.3%

The areas with the highest percentage of seniors are Northern Bruce Peninsula at 27.7%, Saugeen Shores at 26.8%, Blue Mountains at 24.8% and South Bruce Peninsula at 24.1%. 

2006 Census Population for Ontario, Grey and Bruce Counties.  (July 2007, Statistics Canada).