November is Fall Prevention Month

November 2019 blog post written by Marguerite Oberle Thomas, RN., BScN.

The Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) is an independent, not-for-profit organization that provides essential information on Canada’s health systems and the health of Canadians. CIHI reports the following:

• In 2017–2018, 51 percent of all injury-related hospitalizations in Canada were for seniors age 65 and older.
• During that period, 137,568 seniors were hospitalized because of injuries and 37 percent of those hospitalizations were males while 63 percent were females.
• From 2017-2018, 81 percent of injury-related hospitalizations among seniors were due to falls.
• From 2015–2016 to 2017–2018, the volume of injury-related hospitalizations among seniors increased by 9 percent.

The main cause of such hospitalizations among seniors during that period was falls, the volume of which increased by 9 percent. According to new data released by CIHI, there were more than 2 million reported emergency department (ED) visits due to injury last year – 653,808 of which were the result of unintentional falls (results are based on partial ED coverage for injuries, at 52 percent). There were also more than 263,000 injury and trauma hospitalizations last year (meaning the patient spent at least one night as an inpatient). Unintentional falls resulted in almost 1,800 reported ED visits and 417 hospital stays every day last year, making them the most common cause of injury in 2016–2017.

Fall Prevention Month is an annual campaign initiated by partnering organizations who work with health practitioners dedicated to preventing falls among adults, older adults, and children. The Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation and the Partners for Fall Prevention Month encourage organizations and individuals in Canada and beyond to come together to coordinate fall prevention efforts for a greater impact. The focal point of previous Fall Prevention Month campaigns has primarily been on adult and older adult fall prevention. As of November 2018, the campaign has expanded its focus to falls across the lifespan, including childhood fall prevention.

Why do we need to promote Fall Prevention Month? The motto says it all “All Canadians have a role to play in preventing falls” When someone falls, it affects the individual, the family, the community and the health care system. Moreover, given that falls are the leading cause of injury-related hospitalizations among older adults and are the leading cause for hospital admissions from injuries for children, the importance of taking action is imperative.