Citation

Towne SD, Smith ML, Yoshikawa A, Ory MG. J. Saf. Res. 2015; 53: 11-16.

Affiliation

1266 TAMU, Department of Health Promotion and Community Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Texas A&M Health Science Center, College Station, TX 77843-1266, USA. Electronic address: mory@sph.tamhsc.edu.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, U.S. National Safety Council, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jsr.2015.01.002

PMID

25933992

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: With the rapid growth of the aging U.S. population, the incidence of falls and fall-related injuries is expected to rise. We examined incidence and characteristics of fall-related hospitalizations (falls) among Texans aged 50 and older, by geography and across time.

METHOD: We calculated fall-related hospitalization incidence rates (65 and older), identified fall 'hot spots,' and examined availability of fall-prevention programming.

RESULTS: The incidence of fall-related hospitalizations for older adults increased by nearly 20% from 2007 to 2011. There were clusters of 'hot spot' counties throughout the state, many of which lack fall prevention programs.

CONCLUSIONS: Increased efforts are needed to identify older adults at elevated risk for falling and develop referral systems for promoting evidence-based fall prevention programs at multiple levels accounting for geographic settings. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Geospatial investigations can inform strategic planning efforts to develop clinical-community partnerships to offer fall prevention programming in high risk areas.

Language: en