Looking Into Falls Elderly Canada

¶ … health issue of falls among the elderly in Canada. Community Health Problem The major reason behind the Canadian seniors' hospitalization is fall-related injury. Approximately 20% to 30% seniors fall in a year. For instance, Canadian Community Health Survey statistics shows mostly over 80-years older seniors, 20% living in the community are fall (Seniors' Falls in Canada: Second Report - Public Health Agency of Canada, n.d). Extent of the Problem 256,011 older Canadians suffered from fall-related injuries in 2009/2010.

Comparing with injured people, other than fall-related, percentage was higher in females over 74-year age (63.6% as compared to 54.3%). Statistically, difference based on marital status was also notable. 55.9% fall-related injured people were married as compared to other injured that were 63.6%. Furthermore, 31% of the fall-related injured people were widows as compared to 23.6% other injured people. In this education group, 30% people had fall related injury as compared to 34.1% of other injured people. Household income group did not have any difference proportionally.

People who did not suffered from injuries related to fall mostly were female and older than 85 years, and less probably were married. Statistical comparison of past years reveals a general tendency that older people are suffering more in terms of rising rate and number of such cases. Although reporting of fall-related injured people females are said to have higher rate than males, but having compared several past-year surveys, rising rate of fall-related injured have been found in males.

(Seniors' Falls in Canada: Second Report - Public Health Agency of Canada, n.d). 46% of older Canadians reported that due to the environment, they suffered fall-related injury while walking; as explained in the next chapters. There were mostly fractured or broken bones injuries. This data shows the need of ensuring bone health in older people to avoid injuries related to fall.

During the course of data collection, the average stay of fall-related injured people in hospitals remained quiet persistent over years and seniors of 90-year age and older were found most in numbers. It takes three weeks to recover, according to fall-related old people that are admitted in hospital, which is three times more than the average admission time for all ages in Canada. Half of the injuries happened in homes, after which the injured people are taken to the hospital.

Why Does the Problem Exist? The existence of health problem of falls in old-age people has various reasons. Biological or inherent elements of risk include aspects that are related to the natural aging process of the human body, and the issues of chronic and severe health. Among the household population, 20% of the old-age Canadian reported minimum one fall and it is more common in this group. According to the research, use of alcohol has a link to fall-related injuries.

(Seniors' Falls in Canada: Second Report - Public Health Agency of Canada, n.d). According to the study, of fall-related patients of 18 years age or over, alcohol was found positive when examined in the emergency department. An organized analysis of the proof have shown a substantial link between the incidence of falls and fractures elderly people succumb to and the consumption of particular medications, namely psychotropic (that alter mood), sedative (that induce calm) and hypnotics, (that induce sleep) among other medications like benzodiazepines, antidepressants and antipsychotics.

Costs Associated with the Problem Falls cause consequential economic costs in the old age for community-homes. In 1997, $6.2 billion was spent to treat fall-related injuries in this population, and the minimum cost per the injured was $2,039 (Carroll, et.al, n.d). Although these figures.