The Hidden Emergencies Killing Thousands of Older Americans
Summary
In 2023, falls caused the most injuries and deaths among Americans aged 65 and older, with over 41,000 deaths and nearly 3.9 million emergency room visits. However, other causes like traffic accidents, poisoning, and suffocation also lead to thousands of deaths and over a million emergency visits but receive less attention.Key Facts
- Falls caused 41,400 deaths and about 3,850,612 emergency room visits in adults 65+ in 2023.
- After excluding falls, motor vehicle traffic injuries caused 9,123 deaths among older adults.
- Unintentional poisoning caused 7,803 deaths, and suffocation caused 4,283 deaths in the same group.
- These three causes (traffic injuries, poisoning, suffocation) combined led to 21,209 deaths in 2023.
- In emergency visits excluding falls, struck-by or struck-against injuries led to over 301,000 visits.
- Motor vehicle occupant injuries in ER visits totaled approximately 240,833.
- Overexertion, poisoning, and cuts or pierce injuries contributed to over 1 million ER visits combined, excluding falls.
- Everyday product hazards like fire, burns, choking, and poisoning are also significant risks for older adults.
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