In Arizona, the population of adults aged 65 and older is expected to increase by 174% by 2050. As this demographic surges, health advocates and professionals want to help older adults and community members prepare and educate themselves on one of the major issues plaguing Arizonaâs older populations: falls.Â
According to Lee Itule-Klasen, a co-lead for the Southern chapter of the Arizona Falls Prevention Coalition, the data on falls is relatively limited but the state is seeing high fall mortality rates and thousands of emergency room visits. In 2018, it was the leading cause of injury-related death for people ages 65 and older and medical costs associated with falls added up to more than $900 million annually in Arizona, Itule-Klasen explained. Arizonaâs fall-related deaths per 100,000 people were 84 in 2018, which was higher than the national average according to the Centers for Disease Control.Â