What is the risk of injury from falling?
Most of the time, falls in older people are minor and do not lead to any serious problems. About 30 out of every 100 men and women over the age of 65 will have a fall in any one year (30%). The rate in people who live in nursing homes or residential care is higher though. About 9 out of 10 falls (90%) have no serious consequences, but sometimes there is an injury that needs medical attention. Only about 1 in 10 falls causes a broken bone (10%). Most of these affect the forearm. Hip or thigh fractures cause more serious complications and can restrict activities. They are more of a risk for much older people.
