As our population ages, fall injuries and deaths in North Carolina (NC) are an increasingly serious public health issue. Falls are the fourth third leading cause of unintentional injury death for North Carolinians of all ages, and in every year from 1999 to 2017, the number one cause of injury death for individuals 65 and older. In 2018, there were 1241 unintentional fall-related deaths, over 19,000 hospitalizations, and over 100,000 falls-related emergency department (ED) visits among adults age 60 and older.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that more than one out of four OAs fall each year, but less than half tell their doctor. Falls are serious and costly with 20% of falls resulting in a serious injury such as fractures or traumatic brain injuries. In 2015, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) paid 75% of the $50 billion in medical costs due to falls.³ In 2018, the mean hospital discharge fee for NC residents age 60⁺ admitted for a fall was $48,837, a 160% increase from $18,800 in 2007. The total hospital discharge fees for North Carolinians age 60⁺ due to falls in 2018 was over $942 million dollars. Hospital charges account for a portion of the cost of a fall. Falls result in costs due to work loss and follow-up treatment. In 2018, 82.4% of unintentional fall hospitalizations were among people 60⁺. Of the 19,296 people age 60⁺ hospitalized following fall-related injuries in 2018, 61% were discharged to a skilled nursing facility, 13% required home health services, and 6% went to inpatient rehabilitation.