- Image by Samuel Mann via Flickr
Falls are a major cause of injury for older adults in Maryland and studies show that one in three people age 65 and over fall each year. Recent data for Maryland showed that falls were the leading cause of emergency room visits and accounted for almost one quarter of the 500,000+ emergency room visits for 2010.
For some people, falls result in serious injuries like hip fractures, which can mean long-term hospital or nursing home stays, or even death. Seniors who fall are two to three times more likely to fall again and seniors who fall once are likely to restrict their activity level for fear of falling again, which can reduce their quality of life.
Safe Steps for Seniors: A Fall Prevention Program for Older Adults is a mini-grant program through which the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene provides funding for county-level fall prevention programs aimed at adults age 65 and older.
Contact Jade Leung, Injury Prevention Coordinator, at 410-767-2919, or email [email protected] for more information about fall prevention programs in Maryland
