The Cost of Falls Among the Community-Dwelling Elderly

Abstract

Fall-related medical conditions affect a substantial number of the community-dwelling elderly and result in direct medical costs of dollar 6 to dollar 8 billion per year in the United States. The total economic burden of falls is significantly higher because this estimate does not include direct nonmedical, intangible, and indirect costs. The results of this study highlight the importance of research aimed at decreasing the incidence and severity of falls in the elderly.