2. Falls among Older Californians: Establishing a Need for Fall Prevention

This presentation will describe how to track falls among older Californians and profile falls among older Californians by presenting fall trends, outcomes, and differentials, using the California Patient Discharge (CPD) data and California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) data. Falls among older Californians can be tracked at multiple points in the health care system (e.g., acute health and long-term care settings), as well as in community settings. Even so, our study found that existing, unlinked data sources on falls often lack reliable, standardized reporting and collection criteria, as well as key information (e.g., circumstances of falls). Using the 2000-2004 CPD data, results show that the total number of hospitalized falls among Californians age 60 years and older increased from 68,753 to 74,633 during this period, with the rates of hospitalized fall injuries per 100,000 in the population hovering around 1,600. Moreover, the mean cost for a hospital stay due to a fall was about $40,480 in 2004. In addition, the 2003 CHIS data show that older Californians with chronic health conditions (e.g., diabetes, heart disease), advancing age, and incomes below the federal poverty level are more likely to fall. Our study confirms that falls among older adults are a significant and growing problem. Developing a better system for reporting and collecting accurate and comprehensive data on falls will aid in 1) tracking and monitoring falls among older adults; 2) targeting at-risk segments of the population to implement effective fall prevention; and 3) raising public awareness about the importance of fall prevention.