Baby Boomers and Fall-related Traumatic Brain Injury
Traumatic brain injuries due to falls are responsible for nearly 8,000 deaths and 56,000 hospitalizations in 2005 among Americans 65 and older, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A study analyzed data from two agencies and provided a sampling of deaths and injuries in relationship to Traumatic Brain Injuries and the elderly. Death rates for fall-related TBIs were higher among men that women citing the numbers 26.9 per 100,000 for men and 17.8 per 100,000 for women. Traumatic brain injuries resulting in hospitalizations for both men and women were similar at 146.3 for men and 158.3 for women per 100,000. The rates of fall-related TBI deaths and hospitalizations increased with age. The median charge for TBI hospitalizations were $19,191 for men and $16,006 for women. With more baby boomers reaching retirement age, these types of injuries will increase and the demands on the health care system will be felt. In an effort to prevent as many as possible, the CDC developed tips and suggestions for older adults, their caregivers, health care providers and communities in a hope to communicate the dangers.
