Seniors with Personal Injury

Published on: February 10, 2025

Slip and Fall Accident – Related Brain Injury Statistics

Older males have a three times higher risk of suffering a traumatic brain injury, mainly in slip and fall accidents. That information comes from an analysis of 2021 brain injury data which also found that certain racial demographics also have higher rates of brain injury.

The analysis was based on data from the National Vital Statistics System which found that there were approximately 69,473 deaths due to brain injury in 2021. Men bore the overwhelming brunt of these personal injuries with a majority of persons who suffered fatal brain injuries being adult males above the age of 75. Men are as much as three times more likely to suffer a fatal traumatic brain injury compared to women. That makes a lot of sense when you consider that slip and fall accidents are one of the top causes of brain injury in the United States.

The analysis also found that demographic groups like American Indians or Native Alaskans have a much higher risk of suffering traumatic brain injury compared to other racial groups, with the two most common causes being suicides and slip and fall accidents More than 37,000 traumatic brain injury-related wrongful deaths in the analysis were the result of slip and fall accidents, auto accidents, being hit on the head by an object and other such traumatic incidents.

Published on: September 17, 2024

Alcohol Could Increase Risks of Brain Bleed after Slip and Fall Accident

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Senior citizens who drink alcohol have a much higher risk of experiencing brain bleeds after suffering a slip and fall. Increasing awareness among Senior Citizens is the key to preventing these slip and falls which often cause serious personal injuries.

According to a new study, even seniors who drink moderately may be at a much higher risk of suffering a brain bleed if they have been involved in a slip and fall accident. Slip and fall accidents are some of the most devastating adverse events that seniors can experience. These accidents can result in the kind of personal injuries that not just permanently injure or disable the senior, but also reduce his life span significantly. Slip and fall accidents, for instance, can result in hip fractures which some studies have linked to an increased risk of fatality in the year following the personal injury.

According to the researchers, their studies find a strong correlation between regular drinking and intracranial hemorrhage after a slip and fall accident. The risk of suffering a brain bleed after a fall doubled in the case of seniors who drank weekly. In the case of seniors who drank daily, the risks of suffering a brain bleed increased by 2.5 times.

Published on: July 18, 2024

Fall Accidents Major Cause of Brain Injury in Seniors

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

As many as one in eight seniors will suffer a traumatic brain injury, mainly as a result of a fall accident.

Researchers arrived at those findings recently through an analysis of Medicare data of more than 9,200 patients covering a period of 18 years. They found that during this time, 13% of seniors above the age of 65 suffered a brain injury that resulted in a concussion. Most of these personal injuries occurred during fall accidents.

The researchers are calling the findings of the study “shocking” and say that far too many seniors are living with traumatic brain injuries that expose them to the risk of several health complications. Brain injuries in seniors may cause other complications including dementia and Parkinson’s disease. They can also increase the risk of depression and anxiety in patients who are already at a high risk of such struggles.

Published on: January 8, 2024

Many Seniors Receive No Follow Up Care After Slip and Fall Accident

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Follow up care is not just important, but also critical after a senior suffers injuries in a slip and fall accident, and yet, new studies find that far too many seniors receive no such after – fall care, resulting in serious consequences.

The new studies find that as many as 59% of seniors receive no follow – up care after they have suffered personal injuries in a slip and fall accident. This is in spite of the fact that it is well- established that follow up – care after a fall can help seniors not just recover quickly, but also learn how to avoid falls in the future. It is also in spite of the fact that slip and fall accidents are a serious health concern for American seniors. For example, one in four seniors above the age of 65 is expected to suffer a slip and fall accident, sending 8 million persons to hospital emergency rooms. Even more worrying is the fact that 27,000 seniors suffer fatal personal injuries in slip and fall accidents, while these accidents also contribute to 800,000 personal injuries every year. In spite of all these facts, many seniors do not return to the emergency room for follow – up visits after suffering head trauma in a fall.

The researchers focused on a group of 1,500 seniors who had suffered injuries in slip and fall accidents, and found that many of them had not returned to their primary care physician for a follow up in the weeks after the slip and fall accident. When seniors did visit a doctor for a follow-up, they were recommended physical therapy as a way to avoid future falls. Physical therapy can help improve balance, gait, coordination and address other physical aspects of aging that can increase a senior’s risk of suffering a slip and fall accident.

Published on: September 25, 2023

Increase in Fatal Slip and Fall Accidents Among Seniors

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

American seniors are suffering slip and fall injuries at much higher rates than just a couple of decades ago. According to a new study, there has been a two – fold increase in the rate of fatal slip and fall accidents involving seniors since 1999.

The study focused on seniors above the age of 65, and found that fatal slip and fall accident rates have risen for both males and females and across all racial groups. The study found that in 1999, there had been 10,100 deaths from slip and fall accidents involving seniors, and in 2020, that number had increased to 36,500. The rate of slip and fall – related deaths involving this very vulnerable age category increased from 29 for every 100,000 persons in 1999 to 69 for every 100,000 persons in 2020.

White males recorded the highest increase with approximately 78 deaths for every 100,000 persons in the year 2020. Death rates also increased for other categories, including Hispanics and African American seniors. Obviously, these results are concerning, and even more so because they do not seem to be talked about enough. Senior slip and fall risks are not much of a priority for health authorities, and the results are clear to see.

Published on: July 8, 2023

Nursing Home Abuse Prevention Checklist for Families

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

This June, elder advocate organizations around the country are calling for a focus on the rights of seniors, and the prevention of abuse and neglect involving elderly persons, millions of who live in nursing homes.

On June 15, elder organizations across the world including the World Health Organization at the United Nations will mark World Elder Abuse Awareness Day to raise awareness about the risks of abuse, exploitation and neglect involving seniors. Events and commemorations are being planned for the special day across the world, including the United States where more than 50 million people above the age of 65 currently live. Out of these, close to 1.5 million people live in nursing homes, and a million more live in assisted living facilities.

For families, the decision to place a loved one in a nursing facility or an assisted living facility is never an easy one. It is, unfortunately, the only option available for many people who often find themselves worried and anxious about the safety and care of their loved ones in these facilities. The fact that so many nursing homes in the United States have questionable standards of care at best is definitely a concern for families looking for a facility.

Published on: June 5, 2023

Sharp Increase in Fatal Slip and Fall Accidents Involving Seniors

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Over the past 2 decades, there has been a staggering increase in the number of fatal slip and fall accidents involving American seniors, with the rate doubling during this period of time.

Slip and fall accidents are a major cause of wrongful deaths and personal injury involving seniors, and in fact, according to some statistics, contribute to the highest number of wrongful deaths involving seniors every year. However, a new study shows exactly how alarming those risks are, and how dramatically those wrongful death rates have increased. The study by researchers at the Pennsylvania State University shows that in 1999, there were a total of 10,100 fatal slip and fall accidents involving American seniors above the age of 65. By the year 2020, that number increased to 36,500 fatal slip and fall accidents involving seniors.

That is a staggering increase, and seems to show that in spite of advancements in fall protection for seniors, these personal injuries are only increasing. The researchers say that there simply is not enough of a focus on slip and fall prevention involving senior citizens, and that is contributing to this increase. The study also shows that fatal slip and fall accident rates seem to have increased among all categories of seniors since 1999. Rates seem to have increased for both men and women. White male adults had the highest slip and fall death rate with as many as 78 deaths for 100,000 population in 2020. Fall-related death rates also rose for black, native American, Hispanic and Asian seniors.

Published on: April 14, 2023

Most Slip and Fall Accidents Involving Seniors are Preventable with Simple Steps

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

With an increasing senior population in Georgia, public spaces should be re- evaluating fall accident risks, especially those involving elderly citizens. Whenever a person falls, they are at significant risk of personal injury and even wrongful death. While often overlooked, improving protections against fall is an important step in preventing slip and fall accidents.

A new report finds that just 5 simple and basic steps can help reduce the risk of slip and falls involving the elderly. The results of the study published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews says that as many as a third of elderly people suffer slip and fall accidents every year and many of these falls occur in the person’s own home. However, the basic risks involved remain the same, whether it is a home or a public property. Cluttered floors, lack of illumination, and lack of adequate handrail systems contribute to a large number of all slip and fall accidents involving senior citizens every year. In addition, guardrails are important to preventing slip and falls on stairs which often result in catastrophic personal injury.

According to the report, the five basic steps that can help reduce the risk of slip and fall accidents include decluttering floors, lowering slip and trip threats, installing appropriate hand- rail systems wherever necessary, improving lighting in corridors and stairwells and installing non – slip material on staircases. Taking these five simple measures, according to the report, can lead to a 38% reduced drop in the risk of slip and fall accidents involving the elderly.

Published on: December 15, 2021

Older People now Have Increased Risk of Fall Accidents

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Seniors who have had limited access to physical exercise and mobility over the past year are reporting frail health and an increased risk of fall accidents that result in injuries.

A new study by the University of Michigan shows that the health crisis of last year meant lost access to their usual opportunities for exercise for many seniors. Even simple walks outside the home became difficult for many seniors in Georgia, and as a result, their collective health has suffered. The study finds that long periods of staying home with only sedentary activity has resulted in frail musculoskeletal health for seniors, and that this has increased their risk for suffering fall accidents significantly.

The researchers surveyed a group of seniors between the ages of 50 and 80 about their access to physical inactivity during 2020, and found that many reported lower levels of exercise. As many as a third of the survey respondents reported that their health declined in 2020, especially during the first few months of the crisis. As many as a quarter reported that they have worse physical health than before the crisis, and that they now have a serious fear of falling.

Published on: October 15, 2021

Technology to Help Prevent Fall Accidents

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Older persons may have a high risk of suffering injuries in a slip and fall accident. Fortunately, we now have devices and technology that can significantly help reduce those risks.

Over the past decade, an entire array of gadgets and devices has been introduced primarily with the goal of helping prevent fall-related injuries involving seniors and other vulnerable populations. From sensors and alarms, to watches and hip-protecting devices, there are a number of technologies that have been introduced to help reduce the risk of injuries in fall accidents involving older people. These technologies range from systems that are in place in facilities like nursing homes to wearable devices that prevent fall risks.

One study by the American Journal of Managed Care found that a camera system powered by artificial intelligence and installed in nursing homes can help reduce the risk of injurious fall accidents involving seniors by a staggering 75 percent. The system can help reduce the number of ER visits after a fall by 80 percent. The study found that the use of the system combined with staff reviews of footage of falls and near-falls involving residents, greatly helped minimize risks.