America has the largest aging population in its history, add to this that Americans are living longer and in poor physical condition it is no wonder the number of falls with serious injuries, fatalities from these falling injuries is becoming almost epidemic.

As the population ages and people live longer in bad shape, the number of older Americans who fall and suffer serious, even fatal, injuries is soaring.

In 2012 those 65 and older who died as the results of a fall reached are almost 24,000. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 24,000 is double what it was 10 years ago.

In America the rate of sever falls for those 65 and older is increasing at an alarming rate.  These diseases have had a dramatic increase as the population ages, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, arthritis and Parkinson’s disease are a contributing face to the risk of falls and deaths from falls.

With this increase in these diseases results in an increase in medication for treatment which can increase the probably of falling.

In 2012 hospital emergency rooms treated more than 2.4 million 65 and older injured in falls.

A staggering 50% increase over a decade all toll 200,000 Americans over 65 died as a result of falls between 2002 and 2012.  The leading cause of injury related death in those 65 and older.

In nearly two hundred years, while witnessed by James Parkinson’s in 1817, individuals with Parkinson’s fall.  It is predictable that if you have Parkinson’s you are most likely going to fall. The actual key concern with Parkinson’s is falling will change the quality of life

Falls are a reality of Parkinson’s disease. Patient studies indicate that the percentage of PWPs who experience falls can run as high as 68 percent. Parkinson’s patients are at an increased risk of falling

If you experience a fall, inform your doctor so that your medication schedule can be evaluated result of the side effects of antiparkinson medications.

Studies have shown that PD patients are more prone to falling inside the home than outside it. Potential danger spots include tight spaces such as areas where turning or backing-up is required (e.g. in the kitchen), in doorways and on stairs.

Most people don’t think about their balance until they fall, but there are usually a series of signs leading up to the fall.  If made aware of this warning signs then a pro-active preventive program can be developed.  Balance

These changes in effect a person’s balance increasing the probability of falls, poor posture, problems with center of mass or center of gravity, vision, earring.

Falls occur to stooped posture and leaning forward walking with a shuffling gait.  What happens with our daily activities when these things are now part of your life’s movement the probability of losing balance such as standing, bending down or forward; turning sharply, walking and turning the head or moving around objects or walking and talking?

I tell my clients if you fall we have a whole different set of issues we have to deal with which we don’t want to have to address as none of them are good.

This is a staggering statistic, twenty five percent of people over 65 who fall and break a hip die within a year.  Eighty percent are left with severe mobility problems can’t walk, confined to a wheel chair and require continuing care as in skilled nursing.