Why Does America's Falling Epidemic Keep Getting Worse?
More than 1 in 4 people over age 65 fall each year. Earlier this month, the veteran TV host and comedian Jay Leno was one of them. Leno, 74, left his hotel near Pittsburgh looking for a bite to eat. It would have been a long walk to the restaurant, so he took a shortcut down a grassy hill. A tumble on the slope left him with a broken wrist and significant bruises to his face and entire left side.
Leno still managed to do his comedy act that night. He was luckier than many fall victims. Every year, falls among older Americans result in about 3.6 million emergency room visits and 1.2 million hospital stays, at a cost of roughly $80 billion. Nationwide, 41,000 senior citizens die from falls annually, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In recent years, prominent figures such as comedian Bob Saget, former Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman and Ivana Trump died after a fall.
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The CDC operates a program known as STEADI (Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths and Injuries) to assist healthcare providers in screening older patients for fall risk factors, such as a history of falls, vision problems, inadequate vitamin D intake and foot problems. In one common test, the patient must get up from a chair, walk 10 feet, turn around, walk back and sit down. If this takes more than 12 seconds, they are deemed to be at risk for a fall. Earlier this year, Rep. Carol Miller of West Virginia, a Republican, introduced legislation to make fall-risk assessment part of Medicare’s annual wellness benefit for all seniors. The bill, known as the SAFE Act, would also direct the Department of Health and Human Services to report annual statistics about falls to Congress.
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“There has also been research on dual tasks, like doing more than one thing at a time,” Vincenzo notes. “It’s hard for you to focus on movement if you’re focusing on doing another task, talking on the phone or texting, so that if you have impaired balance or walking problems, you’re not going to pay attention to that and potentially fall.”
The National Council on Aging advises older Americans to take a free online risk survey. Seniors should also review medications with regard to possible impact on stability, acquire a medical alert device if affordable, and create a home safety checklist, which can include getting rid of small throw rugs, adding a bathroom night-light, avoiding shelves that are too high to reach safely and installing grab bars.
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Stay Active & Independent for Life (SAIL) is one such program which focuses not only on upper & lower body strength for stability, but also cardio & balance. Good stuff!
Seniorplanet.org has numerous free online classes everyday for seniors.
PS - WTAF does the annual Medicare physical not screen for sleep apnea? 87% of seniors with apnea go undiagnosed, whuch causes fatty liver disease, hbp, high cholesterol, osteopenia, osteoporosis & Type 2 Diabetes!
what killed me is, most of the stuff people could easily do at home - OK well at least I could 
for you to be able to balance on one foot while you plant your other foot up someone's backside, Skittles!
I don't see a lot of seniors doing that (yes, I exercise every day)
went to Kroger and crossed over from the parking lot then tripped on the curb and went face
first on the sidewalk. My glasses fogged up and I didn't see the curb. RFK Jr should have warned
me about that.
that would fall under "shit happens!" 
and on oxygen, so I don’t get out riding much now. I bought a used Peloton at an estate sale two years ago, and just love it. Even stationary biking helps with strength and balance. I had a hip replacement in 2020 and do everything I did before surgery. Now I’m 65 and in better shape than my kid 
are just a few things that might make seniors not want to go outside and ride a bike. Where I live there isn’t a sidewalk or empty lane to ride one nearby unless you heft your bike into your vehicle and drive it somewhere like a dedicated bike path. It’s easy to say “get some exercise like I do” but not everyone can do what you do. Not being critical …. Just realistic.
One recommendation from me would be water exercise. The community pool where I swim laps has an arthritis class. Older people love it. Also right next to the pool building there’s a high school track that’s available for everyone in the community. It’s made out of crushed recycled tires, has a fence around it, and is great for just walking in the open air.
We do what we’re able to do.
The other thing, and I’m sure this only affects women…..
Being conscious of personal safety if you ride a bike/walk/jog or whatever where you’re alone such as on a country road.
A woman was attacked and assaulted on a bike path here several years ago, the path went through some pretty isolated rural areas. I don’t think men think of things like that.
here's a challenge
just do a short yoga session, say, from youtube
come on, you can do it - you know you need to!
try to make that a start, it's WELL worth it
I have adored Mick since I the 60's, I was a child in England when he came on the scene 
I hope to be that spry when I am his age (I am indeed that spry now!)
