Stats on Falls and Hospitalization in Canada

 In 2009/2010, 256,011 Canadians aged 65 and older reported a fall-related injury, translating to a rate of 57.5 per 1,000. Compared with those who did not experience a fall-related injury, they were more likely to be female, more likely to be older (i.e., 85+) and less likely to be married. Comparing data from several years shows a trend towards increases in the number and rates of older adults experiencing an injury as a result of a fall. While females continue to report higher rates of fall-related injuries than males when multiple survey years are compared there appears to be a trend towards increasing rates among males.

Forty-six percent of older Canadians who sustained an injury due to a fall reported that they were walking when the injury occurred, signalling the interaction with the environment, as discussed in later chapters. The majority of these injuries were broken or fractured bones. This finding highlights the importance of promoting bone health in preventing fall-related injuries among seniors. With regard to seeking medical treatment, 67% of respondents sought treatment at an emergency room, highlighting the impact of falls on the health care system.

There is a disturbing trend in hospitalization, overall, the total number of fall-related hospitalizations increased from 67,899 in 2006/2007 to 78,330 in 2010/2011. This represents a 15% increase in the number of individuals who were hospitalized as a result of falls during that period. Despite this observed increase, the crude rate of fall-related hospitalizations remained relatively constant over the five-year period, ranging from 15.6 per 1,000 population in 2006/2007 to 16.1 per 1,000 population in 2010/2011. Therefore, the number of fall-related hospitalizations appears to have increased because of the increased numbers of older adults in the Canadian population. As Boomers age, this will only get worse.