Study finds spike in broken arms among seniors, the majority due to falls
December 27, 2011
A recent study conducted by researchers from the University of California, Davis, has found that behind young children, seniors are the most likely age group to break their arms.
To test this, researchers looked at how many people went to the emergency room with a hurt or broken arm. From the collected data, they found that 370,000 people suffer from fractures in the humerus bone of the upper arm each year in the United States. Children between the ages of five and nine account for the highest number, though there was a large spike in women over 40 and men over 60 who also broke their arms.
Among the seniors who suffered this injury, 88 percent of the incidents reportedly occurred due to a fall, making it more important than ever to teach seniors new methods of avoiding such problems.
“Conditions like osteoporosis will increases a person’s likelihood of sustaining a bone fracture as a result of even a simple fall,” said Jesse Slome, executive director of a long-term care insurance company. “Some can be fixed with a cast but other broken bones especially those that occur at older ages will require long periods of care and at could seriously disable a person for long periods of time.”
Falls are a real and growing threat to the safety of the elderly. Those worried about a parent living alone may want to get them a medical alert smartwatch. This wearable device allows a senior to call for help in any emergency.
