By Dr. Joel Caschette, Chief Medical Officer, UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement of Florida
Falls are often an overlooked danger facing people 65 and older that can cause life-changing injuries and even death. One in four older adults fall each year and falls are the no. 1 cause of injury and emergency room visits for adults age 65 and over, recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show. Many seniors may not even realize they are at risk of tripping or stumbling, and too many others experience reduced mobility and loss of independence after falling, which can seriously impact mental health and overall health and well-being.
Certain risk factors, like physical inactivity, for example, increase the risk for falls among older adults. Other contributing factors include obesity, alcohol abuse, poor balance or vision, heart disease, certain medications, osteoporosis, certain disabilities and general frailty, as well as arthritis. In fact, arthritis is a common driver of disability among older adults, and those living with this condition are more than twice as likely to experience a fall.
In Florida, 24.2% of older adults experienced a fall in a 12 month period, according to the 2023 America’s Health Rankings Senior Report.
In addition to posing serious threats to health, safety and quality of life for older adults, falls also can increase individuals’ medical bills and put additional pressure on the entire health system. Each year falls among adults 65 and over cost more than $50 billion – a cost that is projected to increase up to $100 billion by 2030.
The good news is that falls don’t have to be part of the normal ageing process, and many falls can be prevented. That’s why it’s critical for older adults to know that support is available that can help reduce their risk for falls and improve their quality of life.
To help older adults understand their risk and take action to avoid falls, Age Bold and UnitedHealthcare are working together in Florida to provide fitness programs at no additional cost for eligible UnitedHealthcare Medicare plan members. Eligible UnitedHealthcare Medicare plan members will be able to access Age Bold’s healthy-aging exercise classes online through UnitedHealthcare’s Renew Active fitness program.
Proper exercise can reduce risks for falls among older adults by improving strength and balance.Research has found that Age Bold’s falls prevention and balance classes can reduce the incidence of falls up to 46 percent.
In addition to exercise, CDC has helpful resources and tips for reducing risk for falls, including speaking openly with your physician, having your eyes and feet checked, and removing obstacles in the home that could pose a tripping hazard.
While we can’t completely eliminate the possibility of accidents occurring, we can help older adults take greater control of their environment and lifestyle choices to reduce their risk for preventable falls. This added awareness, along with implementing some simple changes around the home or to their daily routine, ensures more older adults enjoy full mobility, quality of life and independence longer and more safely now and in the future.
