A new federal report shows that unintentional falls are becoming a growing cause of death among older adults in America, with death rates rising over the past two decades.
According to data released by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), fall-related death rates rose by more than 70% for adults aged 65 to 74 between 2003 and 2023. The increase was even steeper for older age groups, with more than 75% for those aged 75 to 84 and more than doubling for seniors 85 and older.
Falls often lead to head injuries, broken bones, or complications that trigger a decline in mobility or sometimes death.
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According to the report, more than 41,000 adults aged 65 and older died from falls in 2023 alone — roughly 1 in every 56 deaths among older Americans. Over half of those deaths were among people 85 or older, with white Americans accounting for 87% of deaths in this age group.
The report revealed racial disparity in fall-related deaths among seniors, with white older adults facing the highest mortality rates. In the 85+ age group, white Americans were found to be two to three times more likely to die from falls compared to seniors of other racial backgrounds, while older Black adults had the lowest death rates.
In 2023, Wisconsin recorded the highest number of fall-related deaths, with Minnesota, Maine, Oklahoma, and Vermont following closely. The rate in Wisconsin was over five times greater than in Alabama, which had the lowest.
Experts suggest that the surge may be attributed to a growing ageing population, improved reporting of fall-related deaths, and an increasing number of individuals living into their 80s and 90s, when falls can be particularly fatal.
