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Older adults have the highest risk of falling and becoming seriously injured as a result of falling. The CDC reports that falls are the leading cause of injury and injury-related death in adults ages 65 and older.

More than one in four adults over 65 falls every year. According to the CDC, falling once doubles the risk of falling again. Falling can have serious consequences for older people. Approximately one of every five falls leads to injury. Every year, 800,000 people in the United States are hospitalized because of an injury from a fall. Most of these injuries are broken hips and head injuries.

What Causes Falls in Older Adults?

Many health conditions commonly associated with senior citizens increase the risk of falling.

Reduced Physical Activity

You become less active as you age due to health challenges, aches and pains, and fatigue. Reduced activity can lead to muscle wasting, osteoporosis, and Type 2 diabetes. All of these conditions further increase the risk of falling.

Muscle wasting involves the gradual loss of muscle tone. When you lose muscle in your legs and feet, you could experience balance problems as the muscles needed for balance weaken. As you age, your reflexes start to slow down. Combined with weakened muscles, this can make it more difficult to catch yourself when you trip or lose your balance.

Osteoporosis is a loss of bone mass. As bone density decreases, the way you walk may change, reducing balance. It also increases the risk of broken bones from falls.

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus is a metabolic disorder that allows too much sugar to remain in the blood. A study published in GMC Geriatrics found that insulin dependence in older diabetics was associated with a higher risk of falls. The complications of diabetes lead to physical changes that can increase the risk of falling, including the following:

Hypoglycemia – a sharp decline in blood sugar that can reduce cognitive function and lead to loss of consciousness.

Diabetic retinopathy – a condition that causes vision impairment and blindness.

Peripheral neuropathy – a condition that causes a loss of sensation in the hands, feet, arms, and legs.

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Fear of Falling

Older adults often develop a fear of falling after a fall. This fear might cause you to avoid physical activities and social events. This response is understandable because falls are more likely to occur while walking or engaging in physical activity.

However, abstaining from too many activities can further weaken your muscles and bones, increasing the risk of another fall. Avoiding social activities can lead to feelings of isolation, loneliness, and disconnectedness, which may increase the risk of falling by up to 33 percent.

Depression

A Chinese study found a strong association between falls and the following four depressive symptoms in adults over the age of 45:

• Difficulty concentrating
• Sadness
• Feelings that everything is “an effort”
• Disturbed sleep

These symptoms can affect how well you think, concentrate, and function. You may walk differently and have trouble balancing due to being exhausted. Keeping your home clean and free of fall hazards may require more effort than you can muster when you are experiencing depression.

Vision Impairment

Age-related conditions like glaucoma, macular degeneration, and cataracts can prevent you from spotting trip hazards or even subtle changes in your walking path, leading to falls. According to the CDC, impaired vision more than doubles the risk of falls. In many cases, seniors with age-related vision impairment typically have comorbidities that contribute to the risk of falling, such as diabetes or arthritis.