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| Older Adults and Injuries |  In the United States, one of three persons aged 65 years and older falls each year. These falls are the main cause of injuries, hospital admissions for trauma, and deaths because of injury. The most serious health consequence of falls is fractures. The most serious hip fractures occur annually among people over age 65.
A great number of these falls and resulting injuries can be prevented. Prevention falls strategies among older adults include exercises for improving strength, balance, and flexibility; revising of medicines that may affect balance; and home changes that reduce fall risk. For example, you can install grab bars, improve lighting, and remove things that may cause falling.
The rates of motor vehicle related deaths for men are twice higher those for women. It has been estimated in all states of the United States that motor vehicle related fatalities are higher among adults aged 75 years and older, as compared with adults between 65 and 74 years of age. Since 2000 the number of motor vehicle-related fatalities among older adult drivers increased in 30%. As for the number of nonfatal injuries its rates increased in 21%.
 The rates of suicides among the elderly people are different from those among the youth. Elderly people have a higher predominance of depression, a greater use of highly lethal methods and greater social isolation. It has been estimated that the rate of suicide is higher for elderly white men than for any other age group, involving adolescents.
People aged 65 years and older are twice as likely to die in a home fire as the population at large. Fire and fall injury prevention program directed at older adults has been developed by the National Fire Protection Association.
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