Senior Citizen Fall Injury Prevention

The National Center for Injury Prevention and Control provides tips to senior citizens on preventing fall injuries at http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/duip/spotlite/falltips.htm#1 .  For its own part, the NCIPC states that falls are not just the result of getting older and that many falls can be prevented by, for example, beginning a regular exercise program, making one’s home safer, having a health care provider review one’s medicines and having one’s vision checked.  In doing these types of things, senior citizens may reduce their chances of falling and sustaining fall related injuries.  In this regard, the New York Times reported recently on a study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society which discusses hazards for elderly people using walking aids and suggests that there is room for improvement in the use and design of walking aids.  See, http://www.nyitmes.com/2009/06/30/health/30fall.html .  According to the New York Times article, the study found that about 47,000 older Americans are treated in emergency rooms each years from falls associated with walkers and canes.  As reported in the article, that study found as well that 87 percent of fall injuries involved walkers, 12 percent involved canes and that 60 percent of fall injuries associated with walkers and canes occured at home.  The New York Times reported that the researchers examined emergency-room medical records at 66 hospitals from January 1, 2001 to December 31, 2006, focusing on patients 65 and older who had been treated for 3,932 nonfatal, unintentional fall injuries in which a cane or a walker were involved.  Authors of the study reportedly said that doctors might consider taking more time to show patients how to use walkers properly and that additional research could lead to design improvements for walking aids. 

Generally speaking, mobility aids offer greater independence to consumers in need of mobility assistance but fall injury hazards can arise when, for example, a senior citizen is not adequately informed with clear and visible instructions about limitations associated with the safe use, handling and application of walking aids and mobility devices.  Where an injury occurs as a result of using a walking aid or mobility device and a senior citizen believes the device did not operate properly or did not come with adequate instructions and warnings, seniors or their family members can register complaints with the companies involved in the manufacture, sale or distribution of the walking aid.  In addition, seniors may also consider contacting and registering complaints with, for example, the Consumer Product Safety Commission or, if appropriate, the FDA.  Complaints of serious injury resulting from negligence in the design, manufacture, marketing and distribution of mobility or walking aids may also be brought to the attention of an attorney.