In June 2025, the CDC released some shocking statistics about elderly people’s health in the US. They reported that between 2003 and 2023, deaths from unintentional falls had risen for both men and women from every age group over 64. And rates of death from falls increased as people grew older.

To experts in ageing, this information isn’t a complete surprise. Falls have long been known as a serious threat to older people’s health – and a danger that families of seniors may not be aware of. In fact, the CDC tells us that “falls are the leading cause of fatal and nonfatal injuries among older adults.”

Why are falls having such a harsh effect on seniors’ lives? Why is the problem getting worse? And what can be done about it? Join us as we explore all the details of this troubling news.

Why falls are a concern for older people

There are numerous reasons why falls pose a greater threat to seniors.

Elderly people are more likely to fall

The effects of ageing on the body can increase the risk of falls. Seniors are more likely to have weak eyesight, and they typically have worse night vision regardless of any nearsightedness or farsightedness. So, if there’s an obstacle in their way or if they’re moving around in the dark, a fall could occur.

Medication side effects are a factor in older people’s wellbeing that shouldn’t be overlooked. Medicines can cause drowsiness, confusion, fainting, and other issues that increase the chance of a fall.

And of course, movement disabilities are also common in older people. From arthritis to leg numbness due to diabetes, there are many conditions that can affect older people’s balance and ability to walk. What’s more, muscle tone typically decreases with age, and the lower levels of coordination, strength, and balance experienced by many elderly people can make it more difficult for them to recover their stability after a trip or slip.

Older people may be affected more by a fall

Bones frequently grow weaker as a person grows older. The CDC reported in 2021 that about 40% of adults aged 50 and up had low bone mass – with over half of women suffering from this condition.

That means their bones could be more likely to fracture or break after a fall. When seniors are injured after a fall, they may experience a fractured hip, which can cause hospitalization and decrease their ability to be independent. And when a senior can’t move around after an injury, they can lose their strength and become less able to live independently in the future.

Additionally, it’s also a serious problem when an older person can’t stand up again or get off the floor after a fall. When an elderly person is stuck on the floor for hours, they can end up suffering from hypothermia, dehydration, and pressure sores, among other effects. Just as importantly, they can experience mental health effects like fear of falling again – and those effects can make them more reluctant to walk around independently in the future.

Why is the danger of falls in the elderly growing worse?

So, now we know why falls pose such a severe threat to older people’s health. But why has the rate of deaths from falls increased?

The CDC doesn’t offer an answer in its data. But one explanation for these findings is that more seniors have been living in their own homes or in the community rather than in nursing homes.

Actually, it’s great that older people have been experiencing more independence. Experts in ageing now believe it’s best when seniors can live independently for as long as possible. But it’s very important for them to have the right support if they’re living alone. It’s kind of like how having a car can offer a huge boost to independence – but to be safe, you have to wear your seatbelt and have the car regularly serviced.

What steps can reduce the risk of falls to older people?

The good news is that there are many steps you can take to lower the risk of falls for yourself or an older loved one.

Checking your home

An essential starting point is checking your home for obstacles and other features that can lead to tripping. The CDC has made an online brochure about spotting and fixing fall hazards in the home. It recommends actions like:

Creating clear paths free of clutter on floors and staircases
Fastening down or removing any loose or wrinkled carpets
Using nightlights on the route from the bedroom to the bathroom
Putting objects within easy reach, so there’s less likelihood of falling while trying to get them
Installing sturdy handrails on both sides of staircases
Installing safety features like grab bars in the bathroom.

Take a look at the brochure to see the CDC’s full recommendations.

Talking to your doctor

Elderly people and their families need to know that after a senior falls once, they have a greater chance of falling again. So if you or an older relative has experienced a fall, or if they’re just concerned about falling, you should talk to your doctor to get advice.

Your doctor might recommend certain exercises for strength. They might review medications that could lead to falls, or recommend a walking aid like a cane, or offer other advice.

Make preparations so an older person never gets stuck on the floor after a fall

There’s a lot you can do to decrease fall risks – but you can’t reduce them down to zero. That’s why it’s just as important to make a plan for what an older person will do after a fall. Otherwise, they could face the awful experience of having to lie on the floor for hours, hoping that someone will come and help. And if they’ve been injured in a fall, a delay in medical assistance can have dangerous effects – possibly even leading to death.

Medical alerts for seniors can make a huge difference here. Elderly people sometimes think they can rely on cell phones to call for help if they fall. But in reality, falls can easily occur while a cell phone is in another room or on a countertop. And for a senior who has fallen and can’t stand up from the floor, a phone up on the countertop is no help at all.

That’s why medical alerts are so crucial. With a simple, small device worn as a pendant or on the belt, an older person can live alone with peace of mind because they have a way to call for help if they need it.

Medical alerts typically have a simple button that can be pressed and held to call for help. This is great because it means seniors can send out an SOS even if they’re feeling dizzy or too confused to figure out dialing a phone. In other words, the SOS button can be helpful during other medical emergencies as well as falls.

At SureSafe, our SureSafeGo medical alert device also comes with more advanced features as standard. You’ll get automatic fall detection, which is a function where the medical alert calls for help by itself if it thinks you have fallen. So, even if an older person has fallen and been knocked unconscious, there’s still a way they can get assistance.

Another great feature is GPS tracking, which is helpful for active seniors who might have been out hiking, jogging, or walking the dog when they experienced an emergency. GPS tracking allows helpers to find seniors in distress fast after an SOS call. Moreover, a GPS feature protects older people with dementia, too, since they can get lost or even wander away before falling.

Take action against fall risks with SureSafe

The trend toward more independence and activity for seniors is a great thing. At SureSafe, we’re here to help ensure that freedom is good for older people’s health, not harmful. It’s key for seniors and their families to know about the risks of falls, because then they can take steps to be safer.

SureSafe has been dedicated to providing senior safety solutions for over a decade. Our experience has helped us design our devices to be simple, easy to use, and affordable. There’s no big learning curve or thick instruction manual to memorize. All you need to do to get help is press a button.

If you’d like to learn more about our medical alert devices and what they can do, our expert team is here to talk. There are plenty of ways to get in touch with us – you can use our contact form, call us at 888 540 7193, or send an email to [email protected]. Other options are using our live chat or just requesting a call back.